A heartfelt thanks to President Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver for ensuring that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities participate fully in everyday life (“JFK’s other civil rights legacy,’’ Opinion, Oct. 23).

People like my 19-year-old son Sam, who has autism, have valuable skills to contribute to society, such as being incredibly detail-oriented, reliable, hard-working, and creative. Sam and his peers with intellectual or developmental disabilities also bring enthusiasm, joy, and laughter wherever they go. They help foster a sense of community, openness, and kindness in schools and workplaces.

Thanks to the Kennedy family for giving people with these disabilities the right to be treated like anyone else, and for giving us neurotypicals the gift of their presence in our lives.

Ilyse Levine-Kanji

Westborough