Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Excellent blog by a friend of mine

Eunice Kennedy Shriver: one woman's legacy
by McKinzie Brantley
Aug 12, 2009
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/disabilitiesblog/index.php

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the late President John F. Kennedy and founder of Special Olympics, died yesterday. It seems to me that her impact can't be underestimated.

Eunice Shriver changed America's culture for the better.

When she started the Special Olympics, there were virtually no organized programs that focused on individuals with disabilities. In fact, people with disabilities weren't a topic of polite conversation. When the topic of mental retardation - as it was called then - was brought up, it was discussed in hushed tones of embarrassment or shame.

For decades, an entire segment of the nation's population was effectively invisible. Shriver changed all that.

I never knew her or met her, but I felt her influence. In the '90s, I worked with people with disabilities in Wyandotte and oversaw a program that participated in Special Olympics. At the time, many disability advocates (including me) had mixed feelings about Special Olympics. We felt people with disabilities should focus more of their energy on entering the workplace. I considered ending our involvement in Special Olympics.

Word must have gotten around. You can't imagine the reaction I got from the community. I received hand-written letters and messages on my answering machine. People with disabilities called me and stopped me on the street. They each told me how important the Special Olympics were to them. Parents relayed how their son or daughter finally found something that they looked forward to, that competing in the Special Olympics gave them a sense of accomplishment and made them feel proud of themselves.

How's that for a legacy?

For each of us, there's been a person in our life who, because of their effort or extra attention, helps shape the person we ultimately become.

The formation of Special Olympics was an important stepping stone in the ongoing participation of people with disabilities into all aspects of every day life. Through her efforts, Shriver helped not only one person, but millions of people with disabilities cross the country become a more active and visible part of their communities.

On behalf of those families in Wyandotte, thank you.