I wish to take occasion of the 2011 week (December 3 to 10) dedicated to persons with disabilities to make a plea for our understanding of their needs.

I quote from a book by my mentor, Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche communities throughout the world – Our Journey Home: Rediscovering A Common Humanity Beyond Our Differences:

“We must not be idealistic about people with mental handicaps. Some have been victims of so much contempt and violence, which they have stored up inside themselves, that there can be an explosion of violence, especially when they first come to live in a L’Arche community. Anger and depression remain with certain people with a mental handicap for the whole of their lives. At L’Arche, there are moments of elation but there are also moments of great pain and anguish.

“But for the people living with them, there is a positive side to these difficulties. They reveal our limitations, our vulnerabilities, our need to be reassured and understood.

“When you live a life of fairly intense relationships, in a community, you quickly discover who you are. If in every person’s heart there is a thirst for communion and friendship, there are also deep wounds, fear and a whole world of darkness. Coming to know this shadow side seems to me a first step towards true self knowledge”.