#428 Disabled, Not Unable | with Ryan Cadres | IAABO Board 54 President | Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
About this episode
Ryan Cadres shares his journey as a basketball official living with cerebral palsy, discussing resilience and advocacy.
In this moving episode, Ryan Cadres joins the Crown Refs Podcast in honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month to share his powerful journey through officiating, leadership, and life. A 27-year official, current president of IAABO Board 54 in Massachusetts, and longtime varsity girls basketball referee, Ryan opens up about what it has meant to navigate the officiating world while living with cerebral palsy. He speaks candidly about confidence, courage, trust, and the emotional weight of being seen as “different” before ever blowing the opening whistle. Ryan reflects on the hardships he’s faced — from insensitive comments and whispered judgments to moments of real pain and doubt — while also showing how officiating has become one of the greatest therapeutic outlets in his life, a place where he feels strong, capable, and fully himself. The conversation is filled with meaningful takeaways far beyond basketball. Ryan shares how he adapts mechanics and movement to fit his body, why trust from assigners and partners has meant so much throughout his journey, and how he has turned his story into a mission to advocate for others with disabilities. He also discusses his annual awareness…
People in this episode
Host: Paul Diasparra
Guest: Ryan Cadres
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: IAABO Board 54, United Cerebral Palsy
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