Mr Anthony Kennedy Shriver launched the Irish branch of his Best Buddies programme yesterday with the help of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Best Buddies is an organisation that integrates people with intellectual disabilities into the community.
Children from Scoil Mhuire, Co Kildare, were also on hand for the inauguration of Best Buddies, which was piloted last year in 10 Kildare schools. It will be implemented in universities and schools throughout the country. Volunteers will befriend people with intellectual disabilities.
Ireland is the ninth country to adopt Best Buddies. Mr Shriver said the time was right to adopt the programme since people with intellectual disabilities were living on their own, and Best Buddies could provide the support system and social outlets to help prevent isolation and segregation.
Mr Shriver explained: "What Best Buddies tries to do is deal with people 365 days a year, to help them with the day-to-day settings of their life like going shopping, going to the movies, learning how to ride public transportation or getting out of the house and not watching TV. What people might consider the normal, simple stuff in life."
Mr Shriver started the Best Buddies programme in 1989 while a student at Georgetown University. His mother, Ms Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics.
Mr Shriver welcomed the political coup of his brother-in-law, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor-elect of California.