Chapter 6 of American Idealist (“Timberlawn,” 34:19–37:19) describes how the Shriver family, particularly Eunice Shriver, founded the Special Olympics. Eunice Shriver explained, “My sister was mentally retarded . . . [but] did extremely well in sports. She was a very good swimmer and in these kinds of things she would come with us and be very much a part of the family. So I naturally was very adamant to get this kind of program for other children.” Watching this segment of the film provides students with a powerful example of how one’s universe of responsibility is shaped by personal experiences. It raises the question of how individuals develop an expansive sense of social responsibility if their experiences with those outside of their own group are limited. For more information about the Special Olympics refer to their website: www.specialolympics.org
This Resource is included with American Idealist