A small pool of participants in Adoption Truth took part in an “Only in Adoption” preliminary survey for adopted people who are now adults.
Adoption Truth and Transparency Worldwide Information Network (ATTWIN) consists of local and global individuals and families separated by adoption. This social media group was initiated in November 2011 by the Vance Twins.
Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists Compiled by the Vance Twins
The group consists now of 7780 members; the great majority (at more than 5100 members are from the United States). The other nations represented are as follows: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Ireland, India, Sweden, South Africa. The top ten cities represented by members are the following: 1) New York, New York; 2) Los Angeles, California; 3) Addis Adaba, Ethiopia; 4) Seattle, Washington; 5) Seoul, South Korea; 6) Minneapolis, Minnesota; 7) London, United Kingdom; 8) Portland, Oregon; 9) Phoenix, Arizona; 10) Toronto, ON Canada
At this point, according to the results, as of 11/18/21:
100% of the respondents believe that adopted people should have the right to search for their biological families if they so wish.
100% of the respondents believe the person to be adopted should be given the opportunity to be informed and also sign the adoption contract based on their interest in the matter. 100% of the respondents believe adopted people should be given access to their adoption documents and original birth certificate when they request them from adoption agencies. 100% of the respondents surveyed believe that information on their biological family’s existence would have prompted them to wonder about them or look for them.
98.5% believe that adopted people have more burdens than non-adoptees.
97% believe “adoptee concerns” have not been addressed by industry authorities.
At 96.9% of the preliminary survey, the great majority no longer believe adoption to be God’s plan (as claimed by adoption facilitators and adoptive parents in generations past), but a plan initiated by humans.
On whether the adopted person felt safe to tell an adult or authority figure outside of the adoptive parents if unfair treatment occurred, not one adopted person was given resources or contact phone number despite 68% believed that they were mentally abused, such as accused of wrongdoing, scolded, verbal abuse, and tended to be blamed for parental dysfunction.
50% did not feel safe to tell an adult or an authority figure outside of their adoptive parents if unfair treatment occurred due to feeling too much fear, blame, shame, and/or guilt. 2
More than 90% felt feelings of deep or prolonged sadness or depression or overwhelming stress, anxiety, or excessive worry and 50% stated for “most of their life.”
72.7% admit that their feelings led to suicidal thoughts. Therefore, it is the position of the people most impacted by adoption that “adoptees” should have the right to inquire about their origin and seek reunion if they so desire.