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Kids & Family

Evanston Parents Discuss The Impact of Disability on a Family

Seven years ago, the Lassmans daughter Penelope was born with multiple disabilities and there began a wild road of navigating the world anew. In this video — part of a new Patch series by Patrick and Brigid Hughes — the Lassmans discuss their experiences.

Each week, my mom, Brigid, and I post stories about how disabilities impact people's lives. We look at how businesses work to make their buildings and practices more inclusive and we also look at things many people think about but might be afraid to talk about.

Our hope is that these video stimulate conversation, so please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

This week, please meet the Lassmans. I met Matt Lassman about 20 years ago and we have stayed in touch over the years. Seven years ago, when their first daughter Penelope was born, they began a new journey into the world of disability and they have invited me into their lives. 

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In this video they talk with Brigid about what happened when Penelope was born, the shock, the acceptance, and the day-to-day living as a family with two other children. They talk about living in a community that is not always on the same page as they are. They also discuss how important community and friends have been in their experience. 

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