Jean Vanier is a very tall man; he must be almost 6' 5". At his height, he can see the world around from above. But when he looks right at you, with his thoughtful smile, you might get the impression his height makes him uncomfortable. Indeed, he dislikes photos where he towers over others. Jean Vanier likes to look people right in the eye, whether they be poor or wealthy, Christian or Muslim, from Africa or Europe, Asia or the Americas - or whether they have an intellectual disability or not.

Jean Vanier is first and foremost committed to the person with an intellectual disability. Indeed, it is his experience of a shared life with people with an intellectual disability that allowed him to develop his vision of what it means to become human.