Thoughtful Adoption Language

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. This post is part a series about adoption and related issues, from my perspective.

Words carry power.

Our choice of words reflects our biases and our values. Our choice of words can also shape the opinions of those who hear them.

Although adoption practices have evolved greatly in the last half-century, much of our common adoption language is still rooted in out-dated or inaccurate ideas. As you interact with others about adoption, may I encourage you to use the following language?

(Inspired by a Lifelines article by Mary Ann Valenti Boyer.)