By Judy Carmack Bross
In an upcoming issue, Shirley Ryan will be telling us more about the international outreach of Pathways.org and how so many are maximizing baby development by using the free resources provided for all babies.
For more information visit pathways.org
Shirley Ryan received the award from Dr. Richard Lieber
“In 1985. Shirley and Pat Ryan co-founded Pathways.org. For 33 years, Shirley chaired the clinic, helping over 10,000 children receive expert pediatric therapy. She also leads Pathways.org’s bold mission: to create and digitally share vital information on early detection and intervention for infant motor, sensory and communication milestones. This is no small task!”—Dr. Richard Lieber, Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of Research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, honoring Shirley Ryan at the National Women’s History Museum recently.
When Chicago’s Shirley Ryan was honored recently at the Women Making History Awards Gala at the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC, Dr. Rick Lieber introduced her as an “extraordinary leader and a true force for change”. “Mrs. Ryan’s impact is undeniable. Over 50 million people around the world use Pathways.org resources every year. Over 300 U.S. universities use Pathways.org. materials to improve their skills,” he said.
Classic Chicago congratulates Shirley Ryan as a international visionary, a leading force for change and relentless advocate for young children as witnessed to by this award.
Shirley Ryan speaks at the Women Making History Awards at the National Women’s History Museum.
Since its debut in 2012, the Women Making History Awards has honored 65 outstanding women whose remarkable achievements demonstrate the power of possibility, including Maya Angelou, Cokie Roberts, Dolores Huerta, Katherine Johnson, and Viola Davis. This year’s event was emceed by 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell with Meryl Streep as honorary gala chair. Inventor and entrepreneur Sara Blakely, Dr. Opal Lee, who has been called “the Grandmother of Juneteenth” and Mattel , cited for inspiring change, were the other recipients of the 2025 Women Making History Awards.
Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum which reaches more than five million visitors online with educational programming for teachers, students and parents, is dedicated to uncovering, interpreting and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. A leader in women’s history education, the Museum tells often untold stories of women throughout history and serves as a space for inspiration, collaboration and amplification of women’s impact, striving to fundamentally change the way women and girls see their potential and power.
Classic Chicago congratulates Shirey Ryan and is delighted to share some of Dr. Lieber’s remarks from that night:
“It is my absolute privilege to stand before you tonight to introduce a woman who is not just making history, she is rewriting it with compassion, vision, and an unstoppable drive, to make the world a better place.
“But Shirley isn’t done yet. With her strategic vision, in the past several years she has brought together five leading organizations to perform a groundbreaking research study that will advance early detection and intervention for infants with motor delays—transforming the future of pediatric care.
“Shirley’s impact isn’t measured in numbers alone—though, let’s be honest, her philanthropy has transformed entire fields. Her true legacy lies in the countless lives she has touched.
“Children who were once told their futures were uncertain—but are now thriving because of early interventions she championed. Families who were given hope when they needed it most. Communities that now have greater access to health equity because she refused to accept anything less.
“So tonight, we are not just celebrating Shirley’s generosity; Or her leadership; Or even her remarkable accomplishments (though we could spend all night listing them). We are celebrating her heart, her vision, and her relentless pursuit of change.”
“Shirley Ryan has dedicated over 44 years to advancing the understanding and methods for early detection and intervention of motor development to take advantage of infant neuroplasticity and close the gap in infant movement abilities. Pathways.org is used by millions of parents and healthcare professionals annually through its video-based website, app, and social media in every country except North Korea. Materials focus on promoting actionable steps for early detection and intervention for infants with movement, speech, and sensory delays. Over one million U.S. infants annually are born with movement, speech, and sensory delays.
“Shirley’s pioneering work to empower every infant’s fullest physical development has won numerous awards. Two U.S. Presidents have appointed Shirley Ryan to the National Council on Disability in Washington D.C., which advises the U.S. Congress on disability policy.
“In 2017, Pathways.org merged with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, acclaimed since 1991 as the number one U.S. rehabilitation hospital by the U.S. News and World Report. The Pathways.org Medical Round Table (P.M.R.T.) created in 1990 the first Infant Milestone Chart of typical and atypical development endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (A.A.P.). All Pathways.org material is in accord with the leadership of the P.M.R.T. and the A.A.P.
“Shirley is a strong believer in the power of early infant detection, therapeutic intervention, universal accessibility, and the concept that all children can learn, beginning at birth. Currently Shirley’s work includes Project Corbett Ryan, a first-in-the-world, multi-site longitudinal randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an evidence-based physical therapy intervention for infants at risk of neuromotor delay.
“Project Corbett Ryan, also known as the Corbett Ryan–Northwestern–Shirley Ryan AbilityLab–Lurie Children’s Infant Early Detection, Intervention and Prevention Project, is designed to assess a one-year-long physical therapy intervention for infants at risk for motor delays using flexible body-worn sensors and video technology to provide high-resolution measures of motor development in infants. This study aims to harness infant neuroplasticity through an evidence-based approach integrating caregiver engagement, active learning, and environmental enrichment.”
Isabelle, Lydia, and Patrick Ryan, Jr. (Corbett Ryan )at front; with Pat and Shirley Ryan at a Shirley Ryan AbilityLab gala.
Shirley has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates from her alma mater Northwestern University, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Catholic Theological Union, and has also received the Chicago History Museum Award for Distinguished Chicago Civic Leadership.
Each week we think about what makes Chicago outstanding and Shirley Ryan is right there at the top of the list.
