On Tuesday, August 25, 2009, the world lost another great advocate for people with disabilities in the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. His passing follows on the footsteps of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a world advocate of those who have disabilities, who passed away on August 11, 2009.
In the words of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, (AUCD), ”Senator Kennedy was a hero to the disability community and to millions of others who needed a voice in the halls of power and influence.” Having served for over 46 years in the U.S. Senate, “he played a key role in every major law that positively impacts people with developmental and other disabilities…These laws serve as the foundation of disability rights and national disability policy as we know it today.”
You can read the AUCD’s Tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy in its entirety on the AUCD website.
These two great people have shown us that advocacy is not just in the words that we use, but in the actions that we do.