Eamon Shannon :::
Eamon Shannon
Graduated in 1996
Inducted in 2007
Eamon Shannon is a 1996 graduate of Lyons Township High School. While he was involved in many
activities at LT, he is probably best known as the first special needs student in Illinois to
graduate from high school without attending any special education classes. Shannon was born with
Down Syndrome but was enrolled exclusively in regular education classes at LT. Shannon was a
presenter at the Washington D.C. 25th anniversary celebration of Public Law 94-142, legislation
that provided special education rights to students with developmental disabilities. He also
attended a nine-month statewide advocacy training program, where he learned how to be an effective
advocate and how to work with elected officials to make policy changes that support people with
disabilities. Shannon was gainfully employed at Blockbuster Video, where he became widely known and
respected as a movie expert. Shannon was recognized with multiple local and state-wide honors.
Shannon’s accomplishments paved the way for other students like him who are now fully included in
regular education settings. His use of an inclusion facilitator, something almost unheard of when
he was in school, is now standard in schools statewide. Following Shannon’s death in 2006, the
Chicago-based pro bono Center for Disability and Elder Law renamed its educational section as the
Eamon Shannon Special Education Program. Already, more than 80 Chicago-area attorneys have
committed to perform pro bono legal representation of children with developmental or learning
disabilities in their education placements. Additionally, Aspire, an Illinois-based, not-for-profit
organization, renamed its children services center and building as the Eamon Shannon Children’s
Center.