“At the heart of inclusion is the belief that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.” ~ Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy, was a philanthropist, activist, and the founder of the Special Olympics. She believed that individuals with intellectual disabilities could accomplish everything anyone else could if only given a chance, and she fought to provide them with opportunities.
Growing up, Shriver was very close to her sister, Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability. Shriver was inspired by her sister’s strength and resilience, which led her to become an outspoken advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She was particularly impressed with Rosemary’s ability to keep up with their siblings during physical activities, which led to the development of “Camp Shriver” in 1962. This was a day camp Shriver hosted in her backyard for young people with intellectual disabilities, where she helped explore and develop their skills in physical activities and sports. She knew from her personal experiences that these individuals were capable of so much more than anyone thought and wanted to help them feel seen, build community, and showcase their skills.
Shriver’s camp continued to grow, eventually leading to the development of the Special Olympics in 1968. The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago with over 1,000 athletes from the U.S. and Canada. Over 200 different athletic events were offered. Following the success of the inaugural games, the Special Olympics were officially incorporated, and the foundation was established, enabling the organization to continue and grow into what it is today. Since then, almost three million athletes from all over the world have competed in the games.
Shriver’s advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities didn’t stop there. In 1969, she moved to France to advocate for her cause and lay the groundwork for the Special Olympics’ extensive international expansion. In 1982, she founded the “Community of Caring” character education program, focusing on disabilities, which was adopted by nearly 1,200 schools nationwide. She spent her whole life fighting for better support for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
In 1984, Shriver received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, in 1998, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2009, she received a portrait in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG). Shriver saw the first portrait commissioned for the NPG as someone who was not a president or first lady.
In 1995, the United States minted a silver dollar to commemorate the Special Olympics World Games. There was initially some controversy around this design because many felt that it was too focused on Eunice Kennedy Shriver. But, it was decided that, since she was the founder of the Special Olympics, it was appropriate to feature her portrait on the obverse. Shriver became the first living woman featured on a U.S. coin. The reverse features a medal from the games, a rose, and this quote by Shriver: “As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us.” The design on the medal features the Special Olympics logo, with five people standing in a circle, symbolizing the organization’s global presence. All the figures have three arms: the lowered arms represent a time when people still underestimated the talents of individuals with disabilities, the straight arms represent outreach, and the raised arms represent joy and accomplishment. The rose is a tribute to Shriver’s sister, Rosemary, who inspired the idea for the Special Olympics.