Time Line Before 1968
"1946
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation is established. The goals began as doing good works and later focused on how society cares for people with intellectual disabilities (then known as “mental retardation”) and to help identify and disseminate ways to prevent the causes of intellectual disability. The foundation is the first of its kind to focus efforts on this neglected population.
1947
Eunice Kennedy is named a trustee of the JPK Jr. Foundation.
1948 - 1956
The JPK Jr. Foundation advocates for research into the causes of intellectual disability. The foundation also bestows grants for this research, including the first substantial ($1.2 million) grant in the nation's history for research into the causes of intellectual disability.
1957
Eunice Kennedy Shriver takes over direction of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation
1958
Eunice and Sargent Shriver begin series of fact-finding trips around the U.S. to institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. They start recruiting experts in the field to advise the JPK Jr. Foundation in a push for swifter progress in helping children and adults with ID and their families.
1960
John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States. At the urging of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the newly elected president makes intellectual disabilities a priority of the new administration.
Spring 1961
The President’s health care transition team – working with Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- recommends the creation of a National Institute for Child Health and Human Development.
11 October 1961
President John F. Kennedy announces that research into intellectual disability has been "too long postponed" and will become a national priority. He also announces the establishment of a President's Panel on Mental Retardation. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is consultant to the panel and becomes known as the committee’s “guiding force.”
4 November 1961
The JPK Jr. Foundation launches an awards program to recognize leadership and advances in research in the field of intellectual disabilities. It's goal is to encourage scientists to direct their research to the field of intellectual disabilities.
June 1962
Eunice Kennedy Shriver opens a summer camp for young people with intellectual disabilities at her home in suburban Washington, D.C. What was then known as “Shriver Camp” welcomes dozens of young people from local institutions and agencies; campers range in age from about six to 16.
September 1962
Eunice Kennedy Shriver reveals that her sister -- also U.S. President Kennedy’s sister -- has an intellectual disability, the first such public acknowledgement by the Kennedy family. The article in the popular “Saturday Evening Post” -- titled “Hope for the Retarded” -- becomes known as a "watershed in changing attitudes towards people with retardation." The piece was “read by millions, and further convinced parents that having a child or sibling with mental retardation was nothing to feel shame or guilt over."
16 October 1962
The President’s Panel on Mental Retardation releases a 311-page proposed program for “National Action to Combat Mental Retardation.” The report provides guidance for developing federal special education programs; establishes goals, guidelines and parameters for expanded research and legislation; as well as increases federal funding in education, personnel training, and residential care.
17 October 1962
President Kennedy signs legislation launching the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development within the National Institutes of Health. The goal was the pursuit of research aimed at understanding human development with a focus on developmental disorders, including intellectual disabilities.
5 February 1963
President Kennedy announces 'a bold new approach' to addressing the needs of people with mental retardation and mental illness: the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act, which would grant $265 million in federal aid over five years to support programs for the mentally retarded, and the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Construction Act, which would grant $330 million over five years for new buildings to serve disabled citizens.
June 1963
Camp Shriver opens for a second summer.
Summer 1963
Kennedy Foundation camps expand their reach nationwide. Nearly 800 young people with intellectual disabilities take part.
24 October 1963
President Kennedy signs the Maternal Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act, the first major legislation to specifically address mental retardation and mental illness.
31 October 1963
President Kennedy signs a second bill to fund construction of facilities related to the care and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities.
22 November 1963
President Kennedy is assassinated.
April 1964
Kennedy Foundation holds two-day conference on the importance and benefits of physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities, run by Dr. William Freeberg. Findings include: improving physical fitness opportunities for people with ID helps lead to many other opportunities, including employment, for people with ID.
May 1964
The first conference on "Developing Special Recreation Programs for the Retarded" is held in Washington, D.C. It is sponsored by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
June 1964
Camp Shriver opens for a third summer.
September 1964
The Kennedy Foundation pushes ahead on idea of physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities beyond day camps and summer activities. Eunice Kennedy Shriver establishes a board of experts to further this idea, with the goal of developing year-round programs.
March 1965
Eunice Kennedy Shriver calls for a nationwide physical fitness program for people with intellectual disabilities. The plan includes a national tournament of athletic contests, starting at the local level.
April 1965
Kennedy Foundation-AAHPER committees begin work on organizing year-round national fitness programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
May 1965
Chicago Park District sends 10 recreation teachers, including Anne McGlone Burke to Dr. Freeberg’s workshop.
15 June 1965
Eunice Kennedy Shriver holds news conference to announce a new nationwide program. She says, 'We are witnessing here today the opening of an unprecedented new era" for people with ID in schools, summer camps and year-round programs.'
June 1965
Camp Shriver continues for a fourth summer.
2 November 1966
Eunice Kennedy Shriver proposes “nationwide sports contests” between teams of young people with intellectual disabilities. She also cites “dramatic” improvement in learning skills among people with intellectual disabilities as a result of physical training.
June 1967
Shriver-type day camps now provide summer activities for over 7,000 children with intellectual disabilities.
Summer 1967
Sargent Shriver meets with the president of the Chicago Park District to discuss lack of progress in Kennedy Foundation-funded programs in Chicago (Shorter, p. 129). Board President William McFetridge and Daniel Shannon begin pushing for more active programs for people with intellectual disabilities. They create a task force aimed at stepping up the program's activities; members include Anne McGlone Burke, a recipient of a 1965 Kennedy Foundation grant and who’d found great success working with children with intellectual disabilities.
Fall 1967
The Chicago Park District begins plans for a citywide track meet modeled after the Olympics. A proposal is made to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Kennedy Foundation. Shriver embraces the project and asks Anne McGlone Burke to enlarge the scope to include athletes from around the country.
January 1968
Anne M. Burke travels to Washington to meet with Kennedy Foundation staffers to discuss of a large-scale athletic event for people with ID. She submits a plan for an event to be held in Chicago working jointly with the Kennedy Foundation.
29 March 1968
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Chicago Park District hold a news conference to announce plans for the first "Olympic" games for retarded children.
20 July 1968
The first International Special Olympics Summer Games are held at Soldier Field in Chicago.
2 August 1968
Special Olympics is officially incorporated."
(Timeline quoted from "Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics")
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation is established. The goals began as doing good works and later focused on how society cares for people with intellectual disabilities (then known as “mental retardation”) and to help identify and disseminate ways to prevent the causes of intellectual disability. The foundation is the first of its kind to focus efforts on this neglected population.
1947
Eunice Kennedy is named a trustee of the JPK Jr. Foundation.
1948 - 1956
The JPK Jr. Foundation advocates for research into the causes of intellectual disability. The foundation also bestows grants for this research, including the first substantial ($1.2 million) grant in the nation's history for research into the causes of intellectual disability.
1957
Eunice Kennedy Shriver takes over direction of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation
1958
Eunice and Sargent Shriver begin series of fact-finding trips around the U.S. to institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. They start recruiting experts in the field to advise the JPK Jr. Foundation in a push for swifter progress in helping children and adults with ID and their families.
1960
John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States. At the urging of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the newly elected president makes intellectual disabilities a priority of the new administration.
Spring 1961
The President’s health care transition team – working with Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- recommends the creation of a National Institute for Child Health and Human Development.
11 October 1961
President John F. Kennedy announces that research into intellectual disability has been "too long postponed" and will become a national priority. He also announces the establishment of a President's Panel on Mental Retardation. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is consultant to the panel and becomes known as the committee’s “guiding force.”
4 November 1961
The JPK Jr. Foundation launches an awards program to recognize leadership and advances in research in the field of intellectual disabilities. It's goal is to encourage scientists to direct their research to the field of intellectual disabilities.
June 1962
Eunice Kennedy Shriver opens a summer camp for young people with intellectual disabilities at her home in suburban Washington, D.C. What was then known as “Shriver Camp” welcomes dozens of young people from local institutions and agencies; campers range in age from about six to 16.
September 1962
Eunice Kennedy Shriver reveals that her sister -- also U.S. President Kennedy’s sister -- has an intellectual disability, the first such public acknowledgement by the Kennedy family. The article in the popular “Saturday Evening Post” -- titled “Hope for the Retarded” -- becomes known as a "watershed in changing attitudes towards people with retardation." The piece was “read by millions, and further convinced parents that having a child or sibling with mental retardation was nothing to feel shame or guilt over."
16 October 1962
The President’s Panel on Mental Retardation releases a 311-page proposed program for “National Action to Combat Mental Retardation.” The report provides guidance for developing federal special education programs; establishes goals, guidelines and parameters for expanded research and legislation; as well as increases federal funding in education, personnel training, and residential care.
17 October 1962
President Kennedy signs legislation launching the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development within the National Institutes of Health. The goal was the pursuit of research aimed at understanding human development with a focus on developmental disorders, including intellectual disabilities.
5 February 1963
President Kennedy announces 'a bold new approach' to addressing the needs of people with mental retardation and mental illness: the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act, which would grant $265 million in federal aid over five years to support programs for the mentally retarded, and the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Construction Act, which would grant $330 million over five years for new buildings to serve disabled citizens.
June 1963
Camp Shriver opens for a second summer.
Summer 1963
Kennedy Foundation camps expand their reach nationwide. Nearly 800 young people with intellectual disabilities take part.
24 October 1963
President Kennedy signs the Maternal Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act, the first major legislation to specifically address mental retardation and mental illness.
31 October 1963
President Kennedy signs a second bill to fund construction of facilities related to the care and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities.
22 November 1963
President Kennedy is assassinated.
April 1964
Kennedy Foundation holds two-day conference on the importance and benefits of physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities, run by Dr. William Freeberg. Findings include: improving physical fitness opportunities for people with ID helps lead to many other opportunities, including employment, for people with ID.
May 1964
The first conference on "Developing Special Recreation Programs for the Retarded" is held in Washington, D.C. It is sponsored by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
June 1964
Camp Shriver opens for a third summer.
September 1964
The Kennedy Foundation pushes ahead on idea of physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities beyond day camps and summer activities. Eunice Kennedy Shriver establishes a board of experts to further this idea, with the goal of developing year-round programs.
March 1965
Eunice Kennedy Shriver calls for a nationwide physical fitness program for people with intellectual disabilities. The plan includes a national tournament of athletic contests, starting at the local level.
April 1965
Kennedy Foundation-AAHPER committees begin work on organizing year-round national fitness programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
May 1965
Chicago Park District sends 10 recreation teachers, including Anne McGlone Burke to Dr. Freeberg’s workshop.
15 June 1965
Eunice Kennedy Shriver holds news conference to announce a new nationwide program. She says, 'We are witnessing here today the opening of an unprecedented new era" for people with ID in schools, summer camps and year-round programs.'
June 1965
Camp Shriver continues for a fourth summer.
2 November 1966
Eunice Kennedy Shriver proposes “nationwide sports contests” between teams of young people with intellectual disabilities. She also cites “dramatic” improvement in learning skills among people with intellectual disabilities as a result of physical training.
June 1967
Shriver-type day camps now provide summer activities for over 7,000 children with intellectual disabilities.
Summer 1967
Sargent Shriver meets with the president of the Chicago Park District to discuss lack of progress in Kennedy Foundation-funded programs in Chicago (Shorter, p. 129). Board President William McFetridge and Daniel Shannon begin pushing for more active programs for people with intellectual disabilities. They create a task force aimed at stepping up the program's activities; members include Anne McGlone Burke, a recipient of a 1965 Kennedy Foundation grant and who’d found great success working with children with intellectual disabilities.
Fall 1967
The Chicago Park District begins plans for a citywide track meet modeled after the Olympics. A proposal is made to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Kennedy Foundation. Shriver embraces the project and asks Anne McGlone Burke to enlarge the scope to include athletes from around the country.
January 1968
Anne M. Burke travels to Washington to meet with Kennedy Foundation staffers to discuss of a large-scale athletic event for people with ID. She submits a plan for an event to be held in Chicago working jointly with the Kennedy Foundation.
29 March 1968
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Chicago Park District hold a news conference to announce plans for the first "Olympic" games for retarded children.
20 July 1968
The first International Special Olympics Summer Games are held at Soldier Field in Chicago.
2 August 1968
Special Olympics is officially incorporated."
(Timeline quoted from "Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics")