We put people at the center of change.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

When Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968, she envisioned a program of athletic competition for people with mental retardation that sidelined prejudice and substituted opportunity and understanding. Through her advocacy, she has brought to millions of lives what all people deserve: A chance to experience self-worth, a chance to connect with their fellow man a chance to live without walls. Read more on Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Made possible with the support of The Case Foundation.

Social issues Eunice Kennedy Shriver addressed:
•    Intellectual disabilities
•    Inclusion
•    Health

Social issues that need to be addressed today:
•    Intellectual Disabilities (ID) – Persons with intellectual disability comprise from 1 percent to 3 percent worldwide. There are an estimated 200 million people with intellectual disabilities in the world. All communities and all socioeconomic groups have significant populations of individuals with an intellectual disability.*
•    Inclusion – In a study released by Special Olympics, only 21percent of the respondents agree that children with ID should attend a regular school, either in special classes or inclusive classes.**
•    Health – Obesity is more common among individuals with ID than in the general population.***

* http://www.specialolympics.org/uploadedFiles/LandingPage/ WhatWeDo/Research_Studies_Desciption_Pages/Policy_Paper_ Status_Prospects.pdf
** http://www.specialolympics.org/research_multinational_attitudes. aspx
*** http://www.specialolympics.org/research_status_and_needs.aspx