Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in her backyard in 1962 . `` She helped forever alter how people with intellectual disabilities are viewed and treated and respected , '' said Amie Dugan , a spokeswoman for the Special Olympics . Special Olympics has grown into a global organization that supports 3 million athletes . An estimated 200 million people live with intellectual disabilities worldwide . Said one athlete : ` ` Because we have special needs does n't mean we can n't do stuff '
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in her backyard in 1962 . Special Olympics has grown into a global organization that supports 3 million athletes . An estimated 200 million people live with intellectual disabilities worldwide . Said one athlete : ` ` Because we have special needs does n't mean we can n't do stuff '