JoBeth McDaniel

Chris Burke became one of America's favorite personalities when he starred as "Corky" on the hit ABC television series Life Goes On. Not since Helen Keller has one person so thoroughly changed how the world views people with disabilities.

This is Chris' story, and the story of his family's love and determination. Here he tells what it's really like to grow up with Down syndrome ... how he pursued his seemingly impossible show business goals ... and how he has dedicated his life to helping people with special needs.

Journalist JoBeth McDaniel first wrote about Chris in a Life magazine cover story. For this book, she spent many months with Chris and his family, and interviewed dozens of his coworkers and friends.

Profoundly inspirational, A Special Kind of Hero is a triumphant story of courage and hope that proves Chris' motto: "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

"Courageous ... upbeat."
"Excellent ... fascinating ... a realistic portrait of an intriguing individual."
"Moving ... an affecting account."

"This book has much information on many levels. It is an inspiring, well-written story, as well as a how-to model for raising a child with Down's Syndrome. It also has a history of educational practice from institutionalizing through inclusion. Chris' story is used to tell the true story of mental retardation in a way no textbook can. It was even careful to say that the portrayal on 'Life Goes On' was always to some degree contrived or choreographed.

I learned more about what it means to have Down's Syndrome from reading this book than I have ever learned from any other source."