A gay couple have said the reward of caring for children with disabilities is “immense” ahead of National Adoption Week, running from 14 October.

Alison, 50, adopted a little boy  around 20 years ago with another agency – and was one of the first openly gay adopters with Caritas Care when she adopted for a second time.

She said: “When I was in my 20s I knew that I wanted to have children – but it wasn’t going to happen naturally because I was a gay woman.  I became Caritas Care’s first approved openly gay adopter when I adopted my daughter – so I was very pleased with myself.

“My first child was Timmy and he came aged two and a half. He had been in foster placement since he was six weeks old. They couldn’t find anyone for him because he was severely brain damaged. He to me was everything. Timmy was the child that allowed me to be a mummy and I thought he was perfect in every single way.”

A couple of years after adopting Timmy, Alison decided she wanted to do it again a second time.

“I only thought I would every have the one child, but I had such a blast with Timmy that I wanted to do it again.”

The second child was Chelsea and she came at 17 months from a loving foster family.

Alison said: “Timmy was non-verbal, and we weren’t sure whether Chelsea would be. When Chelsea was three, she started talking and she hasn’t stopped since. She became the child that could call me ‘mummy’ ­– which I had not expected.  Although her physical disabilities were very severe, her mental capacity was much greater. She opened our world to different things.”

Alison’s partner Barbara joined their family and they became a four in 2008.

Sadly, just after Timmy’s 18th birthday he was diagnosed with a rare illness called severe mesenteric artery syndrome and he died when he was 20.

Alison said: “That was two years ago and we miss him every day, but he taught us so much about love. He was a unique and lovely person and he just loved life.”

The couple have gone on to adopt another child together – Sara, now aged 18 months, who has been with the couple for six months.

Alison said: “These little children have made my world go around. They have brought me every opportunity to be a parent – from changing nappies and feeding babies right the way through to parents’ evenings at school.”

Barbara added: “The reward of caring for children with disabilities is immense.

“I don’t think in terms of the county or the organisation that there’s any stigma. You’re welcomed whether you’re gay, straight, single – whatever. You’re welcomed with open arms to follow the process through.

You can listen to Alison talking about her adoption journey here

If you are considering adopting children with additional needs, then give Caritas Care a call on 0800 652 6955, email info@caritascare.org.uk or click here to find out more.