Q&A Home > S > Special Needs

This past year, I have done some research about people with mental disabilities and have learned to appreciate them very much and I love to work with them. However, my question is about their salvation. In our prayers in the Book of Hours, we say, "Absolve, forgive, and remit, O God, our transgressions; those which we have committed willingly and those we have committed unwillingly, those which we have committed knowingly and those which we have committed unknowingly, the hidden and manifest, O Lord forgive us, for the sake of Your Holy name which is called upon us." For many mentally disabled individuals, they seem to not know the difference between right and wrong and may commit sins unknowingly. Are they accountable for their sins, and how? If so, how is that fair for them if they struggle to learn how to repent and confess? Is it because of their love and innocence, it covers a multitude of sins? People with disabilities bring so much joy and blessings to the world that this topic always has been questioning inside me.

People with mental disabilities are indeed special people to God. They cannot be judged according to their chronological age, but rather by their mental age. If someone is chronologically fourteen years of age, but mentally he is only five years old, then on that basis the caregivers should set their expectations for him and gradually enhance his abilities with further special education. A thirty year old woman without mental disabilities can probably live well on her own and provide for herself without any fear of injury or other reasonable dangers. However, a thirty year old woman at the mental age of ten cannot fend for herself nor be able to provide for herself an income, shelter, and other provisional needs. Individuals with special needs are often victimized physically and sexually because their assailants prey on their vulnerability and inability to fight back or to report the abuse. People with special needs require special people in their lives who can appreciate them as they are and who are willing to help them to experience a full life within the community.

As for their sins, individuals with mental disabilities cannot be held accountable for committing sins if they do not even have the ability to comprehend the definition of "sin". The prayer you mentioned stated in the Agpeya applies best to the general population at large and who are mentally able to identify their conveniently hidden or forgotten sins. Whether the sins are "willingly, unwillingly, knowingly, or unknowingly", this really does not apply to this special population of individuals with mental challenges because of the fact that they are unaware of the spiritual significance of sin and repentance. Individuals with special needs do not have the cunning ability to twist words around or the clever wink of an eye to achieve any hidden agenda. In that regard, they remain as pure as little children for the rest of their lives. Children are usually altruistic throughout their childhoods until they become acclimated with the ambitions of the world. Individuals with mental disabilities lack these ambitions spurred on by pride, envy, status, indulgence, greed, and all the traps that unfortunately many well-abled individuals quickly sprint towards and neglect the ways of God. Having said that, because everyone is born with Original Sin, it is the parents' critical obligation to have their children receive the Holy Sacrament of Baptism as early as possible, regardless of the child's abilities or disabilities. Through Occupational Therapy and other educational programs, individuals with special needs can and should be taught right from wrong as much as they can possibly comprehend. This approach is not only for teaching socially acceptable behavior, but also for teaching safety, caution, and other life skills.    

"Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.' And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:13-16).