INDIVIDUALS with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES’ LIFE SPAN

How long do individuals with developmental disabilities live? The question is really difficult to answer. Though there are some disabilities that not classified as a medical condition but it is the disability itself that determines life expectancy rather than the underlying cause. However, the said individuals are prone to a number of factors that are known to reduce life expectancy such as incontinence (which means the inability of the body to control the functions of urination), swallowing difficulties, epilepsy, degree of cognitive and intellectual damage and the foremost is immobility. Immobile people usually suffer from sores, respiratory and kidney problems.

Recently, I heard from foreign news that in the United Kingdom, individuals with developmental disabilities have shorter life span compared to regular individuals. Perhaps, they unable to provide self-care and they need to spend their entire life under some form of supervision. But there are individuals who have functional communication and don’t depend on others for their personal needs and some are just slightly suffer from minor physical health problems because they can seek help. Although there is argument about the factors that reduce life expectancy and even debates to determine or estimate individuals with developmental disabilities’ life span.

Just asking  myself, 'Doesn’t God allow the individuals with developmental disabilities particularly those who have mental retardation or down syndrome and Autism, to die ahead of their parents because nobody will take care of them?' God gave these ‘special individuals’ to the people who are responsible to handle them… They are given to the parents who can cite patience, respect, acceptance, compassion and LOVE. Although parents may entrust them to their relatives or institution when or before they die but nobody could treat and love their children the way they do. Isn’t it the reason why special children or individuals with developmental disabilities have short life span?


But we should bear in mind that God is totally sovereign in the way that He is handling, directing, controlling our lives... That nobody could predict how and when a person will depart from this life.


The best that we can do is help the individual/s with special needs to be happy, feel belonged and accepted... And part of this wonderful world.