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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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In this compelling and heartfelt episode, Mark explores the deep-rooted issue of ableism and how the labels we place on individuals—particularly those with disabilities—often do more harm than good. With personal stories, powerful analogies, and critical insights, he challenges the idea that difference equals deficiency.
You’ll hear about:
- The cultural conditioning that teaches us to value conformity over authenticity
- How inclusive education is a justice-driven response to outdated, medicalized views of disability
- The hidden cost of labels in schools and society
- Real-world examples of how systemic ableism sidelines incredible people
- Why our shared humanity is strengthened—not threatened—by neurodiversity and physical difference
From childhood classrooms to adult workplaces, Mark reveals how rethinking ability, identity, and inclusion can create richer, more equitable communities.
💡 Key Takeaways:
- Difference is typical. Every human being is different—that’s the one thing we all have in common.
- Labels have utility—but also weight. They can open doors to services, but they can also box people in.
- Ableism is real, and often invisible. It thrives on unspoken assumptions and systemic design flaws.
- Inclusive education shifts the burden. It moves from “fixing the child” to “adapting the system.”
- Personhood over diagnosis. We must stop seeing people as their labels and start seeing them beyond them.
🧠 Referenced Ideas & Quotes:
- “Labels are for jars.” — Dr. Danielle Farrel
- “I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much.” — Stella Young
- “Different is not broken.” — Mark Ingrassia
- From the National Library of Medicine: The need to shift from disability-as-deficit to disability-as-difference
- From ScienceDirect: Inclusive education as a response to the medical model of disability
- From Access Living: The definition and impact of ableism in society
🙌 Ways to Support the Show:
🌐 Visit: specialedrising.com
🛠️ Explore coaching, tools, and family resources
📺 Watch Interviews: Special Ed Rising YouTube Channel
💛 Contribute to Change:
Help bring Ray’s Respite Care to life—a vital new service for families of exceptional children.
🎁 Support the GoFundMe (Insert Link)
📣 Stay Connected:
- Rate & Review: It helps others find the podcast
- Subscribe: Never miss an episode
- Share: Spread the word to friends, families, and allies
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🔚 Closing Thought:
When we stop dividing the world into “normal” and “different,” we can finally see people as they are—valuable, worthy, whole. Because difference is not a deficit. It’s a reflection of what makes us human.
Peace, and Keep Rising.
— Mark Ingrassia
specialedrising.com
Ray's Respite Care GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-rays-respite-care-mission
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