Wednesday's Child: 10-Year-Old Dayshawn

BOSTON (CBS) - Dayshawn is a caring, playful boy of African-American and Caucasian descent with a unique personality.

A curious, imaginative soon-to-be 10-year-old, Dayshawn enjoys making up stories as part of an ongoing role play. He loves having one-on-one time with adults in his life and receiving positive attention.

Dayshawn is diagnosed with autism and has some cognitive delays, however, he has demonstrated a tremendous capacity to learn in the past year and a half. An eager and willing student, Dayshawn has perfect attendance in school. He loves interacting with books, knows the alphabet, all shapes and colors, numbers up to 100 and basic addition and subtraction.

Dayshawn loves animals and is caring and gentle towards them. Dayshawn also enjoys playing "office," riding his scooter, drawing and playing with his toy tools. He loves to be outside exploring new environments.

Dayshawn excels when his environment is calm and relaxing. He has a harder time when there is a lot of noise or activity around him. Dayshawn does best with highly structured days and a regular schedule.

Currently, Dayshawn resides at a residential program where he receives the stability he needs. He is often the first child selected to attend activities because of his outstanding behaviors.

Legally freed for adoption, Dayshawn is ready to be placed in a family who could provide a great deal of supervision and is willing to participate in therapeutic services. Dayshawn would be a joyful addition to a single or two-parent family with a nurturing female caregiver and one or two siblings. He also has two biological siblings with whom he is maintains contact.

To learn more about Dayshawn, and about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.MAREinc.org. The sooner you call, the sooner a waiting child will have "a permanent place to call HOME."