This initial post is yet another "beginning" in a long journey....a journey already traveled....a journey yet to come. As I recount the path that has brought me to this place of advocacy for the orphan and adopted, I am humbled. The faith I claim gives me no other option but to honestly share that this path was not necessarily chosen by me, but rather, the steps I was taking led me to this place for which I now have a responsibility.
Thank you for choosing to spend your time here with me. I look forward to learning from you, hearing your stories, and sharing this journey together....whether you are an adoptive parent waiting to hold your precious one (or more) or are already home with your blessing(s). Your experiences and stories are significant. How appreciative I am to those of you who have spent time recounting the joys and the heartache of ensuring the best medical care (and professionals) for your child. I also invite other professionals working with the orphan or adopted child to contact me with the hopes of collaborating to strengthen our focused area of practice.
As I move from the academic setting to occupational therapy practice, I am propelled by the faces from my time in China and the cries of the adoptive mother searching for professionals who understand her child. Your comments and feedback for this blog are welcomed as we learn from one another in the days to come.
Also...please stay posted...there are opportunities to get involved coming up THIS WEEK! For those of you with your adopted child already at home, I invite you to participate in a survey to educate the medical field on the needs of children and families such as yours. So get the word out and send people over to One Language! We need as many countries of origin and families represented as possible.
If you are interested in participating, simply leave your e-mail address in the comments section or send me an e-mail at withonelanguage@gmail.com. And don't forget to "subscribe" to the One Language blog to stay in touch! Thank you, everyone!
About Me
- Janie
- I am currently obtaining my Master's of Occupational Therapy degree, with treatment and research interests focusing on the orphan, pre- and post-institutionalization, medical services utilized by this population and the current, or waiting, adoptive family. The intent of this blog is to serve as an educational resource and forum for gathering and sharing information, with a special emphasis on the role of occupational therapy to provide services to these children and/or their families. All comments, suggestions, and questions are welcome! I look forward to meeting you! I can be contacted at withonelanguage@gmail.com.