Home to the Special Olympics program, Chicago hosted the first national games at Soldier Field in July 1968. The idea for Special Olympics began as a backyard summer camp for children with intellectual disabilities, created by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy and lifelong pioneer for the rights and social acceptance of people with disabilities. The camp’s goal was simple: highlight abilities instead of disabilities. Since then, it’s grown into a national movement across all 50 states and provides year-round training for more than 5.5 million athletes, including participants of all ages, and continues to spread messages of joy and inclusivity. In 2005, New Trier High School adopted its own Special Olympics program, which has grown to include over 40 athletes and 140 overall participants. Meeting every Wednesday after school, supporters, people who train with the athletes, show up around 5:45 p.m., and the athletes arrive at 6 p.m. The supporters then get pa...