“A survey conducted by the Evans D. Donaldson Institute found that six in ten Americans” have had a 'personal experience' with adoption (Dudley 1). With such a high percentage it is important to understand the issues related to 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 his birth parents. Furthermore, the information is not permanently hidden in a government file. Open adoptions allow “the birth parent or parents to meet the prospective adoptive parents, participate in the adoption process, and maintain contact with the child and adoptive family after the child is born and adopted.” Because of laws written long ago and the practice of closed adoptions, the right to obtain one's original birth certificate is limited in all but six states. In the past, the reasoning behind the laws was that adoptees would be safe in their new families and would not need to know where their roots existed. Over time, the practice of closed adoptions has presented serious complications, challenges to civil rights, long-term emotional problems, and loss of identity. As part of the issue of open and closed adoption, each state should pass legislation allowing adoptees to search for their biological parents when they turn eighteen. National coordinator of National Adoptee Rights Day, founder of Voices of Adoption and adopted adult, Denise K. Castellucci maintains that “adoption should never ask any human being to trade their…right to know the truth of their birth in exchange for the promise of a stable, loving home” (Ca...... middle of paper... ...1.Garcia, Monique and Bonnie Miller Rubin. "Adoptees can see birth certificates: the 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 San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, 2002. 137-46. Illinois Legislature Approves Major Change in Adoption Privacy Law." Policy and Practice June 2010. Gale Opposing Views in Context. Web. November 17, 2011 "Introduction to Adoption Issues: Current Controversies." Adoption Issues 2004. Gale Opposing Views in Context. Network. November 17, 2011.Scharnberg, Kirsten. "The laws make it easier for adoptees to search for their past." Chicago Tribune January 20, 2005. GENTLEMEN. Network. 17 November 2011."The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." United Nations, Web. 30 November 2011.