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# Could the Paralympics inspire you to adopt?
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/could-the-paralympics-inspire-you-to-adopt/
- Published: 2016-09-03T12:21:13.000Z
- Updated: 2016-09-03T12:21:13.000Z
- Description: With the Paralympics beginning on September 7, Reading based adoption charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) raise awareness of the children with a disability waiting to be adopted.
- Author: Gary Hart
- Tags: In The South, News, PACT

## With the Paralympics beginning on September 7, Reading based adoption charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) raise awareness of the children with a disability waiting to be adopted.

![WEB.600.2](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-600-2.jpg)

PACT provides adoption services to local families in Brighton and Hove along with award-winning therapeutic support and also runs community projects for vulnerable women in Reading and children affected by domestic abuse in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

PACT specialises in finding families for *‘harder to place’* children who wait longer to be adopted, these children can be aged five and over, part of a sibling group, of BME heritage or have additional needs or disabilities. At the last count, more than 70% of the children waiting to be adopted in England were classed as *‘harder to place’.*

![Jan Fishwick](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-200-1.jpg)

Jan Fishwick

**PACT CEO Jan Fishwick, says:** *“PACT has helped a number of families adopt children with physical, genetic or learning impairments including Downs Syndrome and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and would like to find more loving homes for disabled children – who often wait the longest.”*

PACT adopter Joanne (not real name) has adopted three children who all have additional needs. **She says:** *“It is a misconception that these kids are challenging. It’s different, they need you so much more than an ordinary child and the opportunity to bond is readily available.”*

![Ahmed Kelly to swim for Australia](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-600-4.jpg)

Ahmed Kelly to swim for Australia

Iraqi-born **Ahmed Kelly** was adopted aged seven by an Australian woman after being born with severely deformed limbs and abandoned on the doorstep of a Baghdad orphanage as a baby. After a top four finish at London 2012, Kelly will compete for Australia in the Rio 2016 Paralympic swimming events and is currently ranked first in Australia in the 100m breaststroke.

**To find out more about adopting with PACT or to attend an information event to find out more, [click here:](http://www.pactcharity.org/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**

**Or telephone:** 0300 456 4800.