Maria Shriver is a journalist, author, and the founder of the nonprofit the Women's Alzheimer's Movement. Her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics in 1968. John R. Kasich is the former governor of Ohio, serving from 2011 to 2019 when he made it a priority to help Ohioans with disabilities. A Republican, he was previously a member of the House of Representatives. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the authors. View more opinion articles on CNN.

(CNN) We face a lot of division in America today, but there is a movement underway to build a more inclusive, united and tolerant nation. This movement is made up of individuals of different ages, different genders, different races and different political backgrounds. It's a movement of people from across the country, all who can agree on this: We must teach our children what it means to belong and what it means to empathize with those who are different from ourselves.

Maria Shriver

Gov John Kasich 07162018

Through its Unified Champion Schools program, Special Olympics is teaching these lessons of inclusion, unity and tolerance to our students in America's public schools. That is why the Trump administration's proposal earlier this week to eliminate all federal funding for this program was so distressing to millions of Americans who admire Special Olympics and know its value.

President Trump, hearing a loud and bipartisan outcry from impassioned supporters of the organization, decided to rescind the proposal. His swift response is a lesson for all Americans about what can be achieved when we come together, rise above our partisan concerns and use our voices to champion a cause that unites us all.

The $18 million in Special Olympics federal funding that the US education secretary had proposed cutting was money that is specifically designated for programs that support students with intellectual disabilities in public school sports and in the classroom. These school programs not only transform the lives of students with disabilities, but they also teach the rest of our students about the importance of acceptance and equality for all.

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