Following a mother’s written consent to termination of her parental rights, a juvenile court terminated the mother’s parental rights with respect to her child, A. B. We granted the mother’s application for discretionary review, and she appeals the juvenile court’s order. In two enumerations of error, the mother contends that her consent to the termination was not knowing and voluntary and that the discretionary appeal procedure set forth in OCGA § 5-6-35 a 12 denies due process under the State and Federal Constitutions. Finding that both claims lack merit, we affirm the juvenile court’s termination of parental rights. In considering the mother’s appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the juvenile court’s disposition and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the mother’s right to custody should have been terminated. We neither weigh the evidence nor determine the credibility of any witnesses, but instead defer to the juvenile court’s findings of fact. In the Interest of K.N. , 272 Ga. App. 45 611 SE2d 713 2005. So viewed, the evidence shows that the mother gave birth to A. B. on November 28, 2006.1 The mother was seventeen, and in the custody of the Baldwin County Department of Family and Children Services “Baldwin DFACS”, at the time of A. B.’s birth.2 Accordingly, Baldwin DFACS also took custody of A. B. when she was born. On December 7, 2006, Baldwin DFACS filed a petition for deprivation. Following a hearing on the petition, the juvenile court entered a temporary custody order, finding that A. B. was a deprived child within the meaning of OCGA § 15-11-23 and placing A. B. in the custody of Baldwin DFACS for a period of twelve months. While she was in the custody of Baldwin DFACS, A. B. continued to reside with the mother. On March 12, 2009, the mother gave birth to another child, S. B.4 S. B. was also placed in Baldwin DFACS’s custody and resided in a foster home with the mother and A. B.
As early as January 2007, in a family and child assessment, the mother described A. B. as “odd-looking” and “different, when she’s crying she doesn’t scream.” A. B. was eventually diagnosed with expressive language disorder and received speech therapy. Upon increased observations of other behavioral problems exhibited by A. B., such as banging her head on the wall, running into things, and overall hyperactivity, A. B. was referred for further evaluation. On June 24, 2009, A. B. was evaluated by a family practice physician, who diagnosed A. B. with ADHD and “questionable autism” and recommended that she undergo further psychiatric evaluation for confirmation.
