Young Democrats across the United States mourn the loss of a great leader, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Mrs. Shriver was a tireless advocate for people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disabilities. In 1962 Mrs. Shriver created the Special Olympics in honor of her sister Rosemary Kennedy, who acquired mental retardation as a result of a failed lobotomy. Mrs. Shriver, after creating the Special Olympics, went on to become a key founder of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. For her life's work, Mrs. Shriver received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work with those with disabilities.

As the Disability Community moves forward we must remember Mrs. Shriver's words, “Even today, many retarded are shut away, child and adult, in squalid institutions to waste their lives, staring blankly at the emptiness around them”. Sadly, although these words were written years ago, many people with disabilities are still locked up in institutions due to MedicAid's institutional bias. Congress can change this though. Please urge your representatives in Washington to support H.R. 1670 and S. 683, also known as the Community Choice Act. Let's keep Mrs. Shriver's vision for equality to all Americans alive.

On a personal note, I would not be your Disability Issues Caucus Chair without people like Mrs. Shriver. I credit, in large part, my involvement in wheelchair sports as a catalyst that got me where I am today. Kids with disabilities who participate on an equal playing field in sports are given the opportunity to feel limitless in what they can achieve. Some of my proudest moments were setting and breaking national records at the Junior Wheelchair Nationals as a teenager. Thank you Mrs. Shriver for all your hard work.

 

Sincerely,


Ben Spangenberg

YDA Disability Caucus, Chair