I have always believed that adopted children were very special to God, as he gave us two loving mothers. One gave us life and the other nurtured us, loved us like no other and shaped us. We would not be who we are today without both of these angels.

My adoption story is a little different in that I know who my birth mother is and have been reunited with all of my biological family. Even knowing this, I cannot have access to my original birth certificate, a document that non-adoptees take for granted but that answers so many questions about where we came from.

Thankfully, State Representative Sara Feigenholtz, herself an adoptee, passed a law so that adult adoptees can have the chance to access a copy of their original birth certificate. The governor signed this law a year ago, giving adopted people like Rep. Feigenholtz and myself the most priceless gift of all: opening a door of knowledge that had been closed to us our entire lives.

This law helps de-stigmatize adoption and gives all adoptees in Illinois their basic right to know who they are and where they came from. Over 250,000 adopted persons from Illinois are thankful for this.

I know who my birth parents are, but when this law takes effect on Nov. 15 I will apply to get my birth certificate.

You know why? Because I can.

---

By tonia from il
Posted: 12/14/2011 10:46 PM

As a adoptee I'm so glad adoptees can possibly find the missing link in there chain although it still seems that the law is still somewhat for the birth parents beacuse if they wish not to be found they can write in so the adoptee would have to wait until they passway which is unfournate everyone should beable to know who they are and where they come from

---

By MMitchell from River West
Posted: 11/07/2011 10:56 AM

If Theresa relied on a group other than the mis-informed AAC, she would know this is a GIANT step for Illinois. Per IDPH statistics released 11/1/11, only 325 of Illinois\' 300,000 sealed OBCs will remain TEMPORARILY sealed under this legislation. Rep. Feigenholtz\'s bill unsealed 299,675 original birth certificates...that\'s more than in Oregon, Maine and New Hampshire COMBINED. An adoptee is more likely to be hit by lightening in a snowstorm than to not receive their OBC under this law.

---

By stephen from lakeview
Posted: 11/07/2011 9:22 AM

On November 15, all Illinois-born adoptees will be able to apply for a copy of their original birth certificate. There is a without the waiting period for persons born after 1946 the bill would not have passed. Accurate information on the new law can be found at http://www.newillinoisadoptionlaw.com.

---

By Theresa from USA
Posted: 11/06/2011 2:24 PM

This is a SMALL step for Illinois adoptees, as the 2011 law still does not return original birth certificates to many adoptees who were born in certain years. The American Adoption Congress is working hard to see that ALL adoptees in ALL states have access to this vital personal record of their own birth. What could be more vital to all US-born citizens than access to their own original birth certificate!