The Kennedys and Disabilities

By Nelson Tang

The Kennedy family is most prominent for its members being in the fields of politics, public service, entertainment, and business. John and Robert are probably the most well known and making their mark in American history. Robert Kennedy was the younger brother who not only served as a US senator, but also as his brother’s Attorney General and closest advisor. This position is crucial as foreign policy decisions were involved. John F Kennedy would be the 35th President of the United States and had to deal with a critical junction and period in the country’s histories. It was during this time, there was the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for equality, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the fight against the spread of communism. There was simply a lot on his plate and over the course of his presidency. Much action was taken and many pieces of legislation across all areas were passed. Something that is not talked about enough is Kennedy and his family’s work towards individuals with IDD, which refers to intellectual and developmental disability. Kennedy played a major role in pushing for better treatment and care for people with these conditions and knew of the difficulties since his sister Rosemary was disabled. This article will go over the major pieces of legislation and the contributions made by the Kennedy family towards the IDD community.

As mentioned before, the Kennedys had a personal connection with first hand experience and witness of intellectual disability with Rosemary Kennedy. Their work began in 1946 when the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation was founded by Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy. The goal was to “seek the prevention of intellectual disabilities by identifying its causes, and to improve the means by which society deals with citizens who have intellectual disabilities." Once John F. Kennedy had been sworn into office, he made it one of his main priorities to focus on the issues surrounding intellectual disability. During his inauguration, President Kennedy stressed the importance of having the best doctors and scientists in solving the problem. He stated "The central problems of cause and prevention remain unsolved, and I believe that we as a country, in association with scientists all over the world, should make a comprehensive attack." In other words, he believed it could be done if all the best the minds were working together and putting their minds to issue at hand. One of the first things done was the creation of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which still exists to this day. This organization was charged with and tasked to conduct and support any kind of research on intellectual disabilities. Moreover, it also included all the aspects of maternal and child health and human development [1].

President Kennedy was steadfast and meant everything that he outlined and took action. He emphasized “a bold new approach” towards intellectual disabilities. He proposed new programs for maternity and prenatal care, a call to move away from “custodial institutions” to community centered agencies and the construction of research centers. His younger brother, Robert, will also build upon this calling out the poor conditions of those kinds of institutions. These research centers would include diagnostic, clinical, and treatment services. President Kennedy also believed it was essential to have special education, training, and rehabilitation. On October 24, 1963, Kennedy would sign the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act. This piece of legislation would combat mental illness and intellectual disabilities and included many of the things that Kennedy wanted to do when he talked about it during his panel. This act also increased more funding toward prevention through maternity and infant care. A second piece of legislation would be signed the following week and provided funding for the construction of facilities related to the prevention, care, and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities. This included research centers, clinics, and community based centers that cared for the intellectually disabled. Lastly, the act would pay for training of teachers in special education and care for intellectually disabled and other disabled children [1]. President Lydon B Johnson would take office following the assassination of President Kennedy and build upon his work with intellectual disabilities and passed legislation as well to help.

Harry Waisman was another major figure in the field of intellectual disability and was connected to the Kennedy family. He was one of Rosemary Kennedy’s physicians at St. Coletta of Wisconsin, where she went regularly for care. As a result, the Kennedys supported Waisman and the work he had done, which led to them helping him establish research facilities in 1961. One of these facilities would eventually be named after him, which was the Waisman Center. The Waisman Center still exists today and continues to be the beacon of interdisciplinary research and clinical care in intellectual and developmental disabilities [2]. Another major center is the Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center at Montefiore, which saw a breakthrough in 1966. The center transformed into a nine-story building in the Jacobi Hospital complex. Their mission and goal is to help infants, children, and adults with or at risk for developmental disabilities to reach their potential and live fulfilling lives. The approach involves early identification and interdisciplinary care backed up by clinical research into evidence-based treatment [3].

Thanks to the dedication of the Kennedy family, we are where we are today with intellectual disabilities as they helped in shifting the direction. Although the issue was addressed before them and some groundwork had been laid down, Kennedy really tackled the issue. Having a personal connection to intellectual disability, they knew that millions of people across the country were suffering and required proper care.

There were people just like Rosemary and she did not let her disability stop her, which made her an inspiration to others. President Kennedy kept to his promises and passed major pieces of legislation and allocated funding towards research and development. Thus, he helped the country to become more accepting of the intellectually disabled community and showed people that they were not “alien.” The continued work of the Waisman Center and other facilities gives hope in finding better methods of treatment and the hopes of a cure. We must continue with Kennedy’s vision in bringing advocacy and understanding for those with disabilities.

References:

[1]. “John F. Kennedy and People with Intellectual Disabilities.” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/john-f-kennedy-and-people-with-intellectual-disabilities

[2]. Shot: The Origins of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers and the Waisman Center.” Waisman Center, 31 Jan. 2023, www.waisman.wisc.edu/2023/01/31/kennedys-other-moon-shot-the-origins-of-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities-research-centers-and-the-waisman-center/

[3]. “Overview.” Overview | Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center | Albert Einstein College of Medicine, einsteinmed.edu/centers/childrens-evaluation-rehabilitation/