Pepsi with Brigid

Perhaps, Penelope: Why Inclusion Matters

This video tells the story of second-grader Penelope, and what it means for her as a student with disabilities to be fully included at Willard Elementary School.

This is a story about a 2nd grade student with disabilities, Penelope, who is fully included into her home school of Willard Elementary School in Evanston, Illinois.   In this piece, Matt and Megan Lassman discuss what they went through as parents to get to this place.  Including Penelope full time with her classmates shows that the benefits are two way.  Integrating her with her peers allows for improved understanding, tolerance, patience and the possibility for friendship beyond what some might have thought possible.   Please watch, comment and share.   www.pepsiwithbrigid.com

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Local Businesses Increase Access for Disabled Customers

Evanston man helps businesses better serve people with physical disabilities.

When Mitchell Swanson drives into a gas station to fill up his tank, the experience is often frustrating and overwhelming. Swanson, who has used a wheelchair ever since breaking his neck in a car accident 20 years ago, is one of many disabled drivers who needs assistance at gas stations. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires gas station attendants to pump gas for disabled customers whenever there are two or more people working, but figuring out how to get that help can be hit or miss. "Many locations have stickers that say to honk your horn," Mitchell said, but noted that people don't always come out when he honks. If nobody comes out to help, there is sometimes an 800-number listed on the stickers but they may not work. Many times…

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Jessica Rudis

11:28 am on Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Matt, that's very true. Spending a day with him made me realize all the little things that I do throughout the day that I've always taken for granted.   more ›