“A survey conducted by the Evans D. Donaldson Institute found that six in ten Americans” have had a “personal experience” of adoption (Dudley 1). With such a high percentage, it is important to understand the issues surrounding open and closed adoptions. In the United States today, closed adoptions are associated with secrecy and shame, leading to long-term emotional problems for children and parents. The basic idea of ​​open adoptions allows the child to know the identity of their biological parents. Additionally, the information is not permanently concealed in a government record. Open adoptions allow “the birth parent(s) to meet the prospective adoptive parents, participate in the adoption process, and maintain contact with the child and the adoptive family after the child's birth and adoption.” Due to laws written long ago and the practice of closed adoptions, the right to obtain the original birth certificate is restricted in all but six states. In the past, the reasoning behind these laws was that adoptees would be safe in their new families and would not need to know where their roots were. Over time, the practice of closed adoptions presented major complications, a challenge to civil rights, long-term emotional problems, and a loss of identity. When it comes to open and closed adoption, every state should pass legislation allowing adoptees to search for their birth parents when they turn eighteen. National Coordinator of National Adoptee's Rights Day, founder of Voices of Adoption and adult adoptee, Denise K. Castellucci maintains that "adoption should never ask a human being to trade their... right to know the true facts of their own birth in exchange for the promise of a stable and loving home" (Ca...... middle of article... ...1.Garcia, Monique and Bonnie Miller Rubin. "Adoptees can consult birth certificates: New state law eases secrecy, but birth parents can opt out." Chicago Tribune, May 22, 2010. 1. SIRS Web .Gritter, James L. "An open adoption policy. is best." Opposing Views: Adoption Ed. Roman Espejo, California: Greenhaven Press, 2002. 137-46. "Illinois Legislature Enacts Major Change in Adoption Privacy" Policy and Practice. , June 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context Web. November 17, 2011." Internet. November 17, 2011. Scharnberg, Kirsten. “The laws make it easier for adoptees to research their past.” Chicago Tribune January 20, 2005. SIR. Internet. November 17, 2011. “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. » United Nations, Web. November 30 2011.