Teen with Down syndrome paves the way for special education at Chicago Catholic high school

From CBS2-TV in Chicago:

CHICAGO ― Ryan Burke (pictured), 15, is the first student with Down Syndrome to enter Notre Dame College Prep.

CBS 2's Mai Martinez caught up with him Sept. 2, three weeks into his freshman year at Notre Dame College Prep.

For many students at Notre Dame College Prep, this is just another school day, but to 15-year-old Ryan Burke and his family, this is a dream come true.

Ryan has Down syndrome, and his parents couldn't find a Catholic high school anywhere in the Midwest that had a program which met his needs.

Ryan's parents shared their story with Reverend Raymond Klees who is the vice president at Notre Dame. Klees called his friend, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, who is credited with helping create the Special Olympics.

She and her husband Ald. Ed Burke agreed to help fund a special needs program at the school, and the Burke Scholar Program was born. Its first student, Ryan, is thriving.

"I like it here," Ryan said.

And his parents couldn't be prouder, especially about how quickly he's making friends.

"It is such a big deal that this school actually decided to have the program for Ryan," said Ryan's mother Elaine Burke.

"He's very bubbly and energetic, and he loves to talk," said Ryan's friend Brett O'Connor. "We can't get him to stop talking in class, in gym class. He's always talking."

"He never had that before," Elaine said.

"If it wasn't for the people at Notre Dame, this wouldn't be possible," said Ryan's father Kevin Burke.

Ryan's progress is impressing and inspiring everyone around him.

"He's got a tough load and he's doing his very best, and working very well with it," said Ryan's teacher Bob Lashley.

So why aren't there more programs like this available at other schools?

"It's a difficult thing to do particularly because of the lack of resources," said Principal Daniel Tully, Notre Dame College Prep. "Public schools sometimes have upwards of tens of thousands of dollars available for special education that we don't have access to."

But Ryan, who believes the sky's the limit for him, doesn't seem to notice any lack of resources.

Ryan says when he grows up he wants to work for the FBI.

Everyone involved with the special education program at Notre Dame hopes it will be expanded to include more students next year. And the Archdiocese of Chicago is studying the program to see if could work within other Catholic high schools in the Chicago area.