Hello, dear friends,
Like you, I heard about the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She embodied
the passion seen in so many siblings, and her passion improved the lives of
millions of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Below is an
excerpt from the Sibling Support Project's webpage, Siblings Who Have Made a
Difference
http://www.siblingsupport.org/connect/siblings-who-have-made-a-difference
Don
It is no exaggeration to note that special education and other services for
people with disabilities in the United States–and indeed the world–would
not be the same had it not been for the efforts of five remarkable siblings
of Rosemary Kennedy: Eunice, Jack, Bobby, Jean, and Teddy.
Rosemary Kennedy, who was born with an intellectual disability, died at age
86 in January of 2005. At her funeral, her sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver
said:
"After Rosemary moved to Wisconsin, Mother and Dad and all of my brothers
and sisters wondered how we could support her, but what we didn't realize is
that she would begin a lifetime of supporting us. We talked about Joe Jr.'s
Foundation (the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and agreed to focus it on
persons with special needs… Jack (President John F. Kennedy) launched the
great federal efforts—NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, The President's Council on Mental Retardation (now The
President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and The
University Affiliated Centers (now University Centers on Disabilities. Bobby
(Senator Robert F. Kennedy) worked to close Willowbrook. Teddy (Senator
Edward M. Kennedy) has spent 40 years changing the laws of the land.
Libraries, schools, clinics, and treatments were created. Very Special Arts
was born (by Jean Kennedy Smith). Special Olympics (created by Eunice
Kennedy Shriver) came into being. Rosie's spirit inspired the 3rd generation
of Kennedy's with Best Buddies. We all honored her, supported her, and did
what we could."
Don Meyer
Director, Sibling Support Project
A Kindering Center program
6512 23rd Ave. NW #213
Seattle, WA 98117
206-297-6368
donmeyer@siblingsupport.org
www.siblingsupport.org
online training calendar: http://plus.calendars.net/sibshop
Our Brothers, Our Sisters, Ourselves