Not be mean, LiteraryLark, but why do you want to adopt a special needs child?

A special needs child has already experienced trauma of being rejected by their parents and put into foster care. How would you be a stable parent to that special needs child who may have their own mental health issues like anxiety or depression or a diagnosed mental disorder?

What happens to your child, if you decide you can't handle the responsibilities? Or, if you need to "take a break" and go "inpatient" for whatever reason? I think you're biting off more than you can chew, wanting to adopt a special needs child. They aren't pets. You can't just play with them and give them treats and change their litterbox whenever it suits you. Special needs children require 24/7 constant care and from adults who have unwavering compassion and are mentally strong enough to handle any crisis or problem related to their special needs child's care.

Instead of adoption, why don't you become a Big Sister to mentally disabled children and spend time with a child as a volunteer? It's not permanent, and it will give you the chance to spend time with a special needs child without being fully committed like a parent. I think if you do that first, you will test your own limits and find out if adoption of a special needs child will be something that you could financially and emotionally handle on a 24/7 basis.