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Ryan O’Connell, the creator and star of Netflix show Special, paid tribute to everyone who was “born into a world that wasn’t built for them” at TIME 100 Next on Thursday night.
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In a profanity-laced speech, O’Connell declared, “We’re throwing out the old world. Together we’re building a new one.”
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One that’s both “chic” and “handicap accessible,” he vowed.
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O’Connell has changed the conversation about disability with Special — for audiences and for writers and directors behind the scenes. The semi-autobiographical series follows the millennial struggles of a gay man with cerebral palsy. (O’Connell is also gay and has cerebral palsy.) Like the protagonist of his show, O’Connell had kept his disability a secret and told friends his limp was because he was hit by a car. He was, in fact, hit by a car but had the limp from before then.
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O’Connell is one of 100 honorees on TIME’s 100 Next list, which highlights rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science, activism and more.
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