• An Adoptee's perspective: an adoptee has never touched the hand of kin nor seen a face that looked like their own.

• A Birth Parent's perspective: a birth mother or father has never stopped grieving for that part of themselves they relinquished years ago.

• An Adoptive Parent's perspective: an adoptive parent has never stopped fearing that one day their adopted child, for whatever reasons, will seek their roots and true identity and leave them for another.

The meeting clarified the procedure that is followed by the Post Adoption Registry when they do a search for a birthparent or an adoptee. While I still do not entirely agree with their procedure, if it is followed by all workers the way it is intended, it is better than what it appeared to be.
1. Before a non-disclosure veto is placed on a file, a) the individual must either submit the completed form to the Registry, or b) verbally declare they want no contact or non-disclosure, or c) do not respond to further outreach requests to register for contact or to advise if they want to place a veto.
2. If a person registers with the Post Adoption Registry and signs a contact preference agreement, then identifying information will be disclosed.
3. Before a non-disclosure veto is placed on a file, the person must be contacted and spoken to directly. If the initial letter is NOT replied to or is returned undelivered, then NO veto will be placed and identifying information will be released.

When an individual requests a search by the Post Adoption Registry, it is their policy to advise that individual to first complete and file the required form to obtain the identifying information first as there is the possibility a veto may be placed when the other person is contacted. This procedure is what LINKS have been advising its members to follow.
A copy of a veto will not be given to the person requesting it as it belongs to the person who placed it on file.

Those who have had a 'contact veto' placed against them may still receive the full name of the person placing the veto by signing an undertaking that if the name is released, no contact will be made, under threat of a fine of up to $50,000.00. I don't think people are being told about this option, but are just being denied the information. If anyone wants the name and has no plans of contact, reapply.