Right from the summer camp for the children with intellectual disabilities in the local neighborhood, Special Olympics Bharat has come a long way in shaping lives and attitudes since 1968 as it has now grown to become a sport for all people regardless of their backgrounds.

Pivotal Moments in Special Olympics Bharat History

A timeline of key people and events that have shaped the world's largest entity focused on promoting respect, inclusion, and acceptance for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

1946

Dumore than Just the Name: The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation Inc. Analyzed, was founded and pursues the promotion of social relations between the people at first, but later on, is focused on the provision of social services of various natures for the mentally retarded. This was the first initiative designed to cater for the unmet needs of such an anomalous group of people in the American context.

1947

Eunice Kennedy becomes a member/trustee at the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.

1948 - 1956

The Foundation funds extensive research on the etiology of intellectual disabilities and promotes various research and awareness projects, including its first major grant of $1.2 million for researching disability causation in children.

1957

Eunice Kennedy Shriver assumes the role of the director of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.

1958

Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband Sargent Shriver govern the United States and travel around the country to learn about the situation of the country’s residential facilities for people with mental retardation. They start engaging experts to help the Foundation in dealing with the issue of this population and their family members which results into the formation of an Advisory Committee with top experts from leading institutions.