Parents fear newborn will be taken away because they're blind

[Sequoia]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) - A Redwood City couple says they're afraid the state will take their baby away because they're blind.

Marco and Adelina Zepeda had a healthy baby boy on Friday. Just hours after the child was born, Child Protective Services workers asked them to sign a form authorizing the agency to put the baby in foster care if they don't come up with a plan to care for the child.

The young couple signed the form. But now they're saying they didn't understand the conditions.

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http://www.kfty.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=B00D1EBD-5226-4F5D-860D-679E1F9DF0B4

(Sorry if dupe)

[seriousstan]

1. Signing the form almost affirms the need for help, in my eyes.

A blind couple should have thought for at least 6 months about how they were going to care for an infant. It is a daunting task even for the sighted. I would hope they have some relatives that will step forward and offer help.

The signing of the form is troubling. Having been a "newborn" father repeatedly,I cannot think of a single thing that could have made me sign. That is what gives me pause and makes me think perhaps they believed they were over their heads.

[cali]

5. I read a more complete article

about this. The couple is Spanish speaking, and they said the form they signed was in English, no braille offered and that it was misrepresented to them. If they need help, fine, offer it to them in the form of home aides. Don't just take the child away.

[McKenzie]

2. They are people with feelings and it's their child

...two people have created life and the state might be trying to take away their flesh and blood. Is it necessary? Given the bond between parents and child that should be the first question. If the child is at risk, then maybe, state intervention is required for the child's well-being. Give them a chance first...please. Can't they get help to do the things they can't do themselves? They have the same feelings as you and I after all. How would you feel?

[Cleopatra2a]

3. Don't know why they can't keep their baby

When I had a part-time job in a grocery store; I would help a blind couple do their grocery shopping. They had a little girl, about 5 years old. They had a list, but she would also remind them if they needed something as we went down the aisle. The city (San Antonio) had a handi-capped bus service that they could call and schedule shopping, doctor trips etc.

[acmavm]

4. Happens all the time. I did my internship with the ACLU. This is NOT

new. And blindness in both parents is not the only reason. One woman who had learning disabilities (and she was married and living with here husband) called for help because her in-laws were trying to take her kids. Actually, her husband called first and I talked to him. I had to call back and talk to her.

Don't know how it turned out. But the social services people had been in their house that day going through the refrigerator, cabinets, everything.

This is just plain wrong.