In this episode of Move to Include, host Noelle Evans dives into the “marriage penalty.” Under current federal benefits rules, getting married can mean losing vital income, Medicaid coverage, or life-sustaining supports.

First, self-advocate BJ Stasio shares how learning about the marriage penalty sparked a lifetime of activism, and why self-advocacy is about dignity, choice, and pushing back against injustice.

Then, disability rights attorney Stephanie Woodward explains the legal realities behind the policy, how it traps people in poverty or unsafe relationships, and what real marriage equality would require.

This episode explores:

• What the “marriage penalty” is, and how it works
• The role of self-advocacy in disability rights
• Why marriage equality still isn’t equal for disabled people
• What policy changes could make a real difference

Move To Include is a national partnership of WXXI and the Golisano Foundation, to promote disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media.

Additional support for the Move to Include Podcast is provided by Mary Cariola Center and the URMC Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities.

New episodes drop monthly. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

The Move To Include Podcast is a series where people with disabilities lead conversations about self-advocacy, disability rights, and everyday life.

Over the course of six episodes, host Noelle Evans sits down with Self Advocates to talk about the issues they care about.

Through personal stories and expert insight, the series explores how people navigate school, the workforce, healthcare access, even relationships, all while speaking up for themselves and advocating for their needs and rights.

Subscribe to the Move To Include Podcast to follow along, and get the latest episodes in your feed every month.

Our first episode drops January 12, 2026.

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Move to Include is a national partnership of WXXI and the Golisano Foundation, to promote disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media.

More information about self-advocacy on our website, MoveToInclude.org.

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Proud Support for the Move To Include Podcast comes from:

Mary Cariola Center

URMC Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities

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