Invisible disability speaker
On resilience, joy and owning who you are.
Showing teams and individuals how to build resilience and face adversity with positivity.
Based in Mississauga (Greater Toronto Area), Ontario, Canada.
As Seen On…
Lauren’s Keynotes
There Is No Normal: 3 Steps to Owning Who You Are
Through this keynote, Lauren shares how she spent years trying to hide the disability she was born with, only to realize real confidence comes from embracing who you are. Through honest storytelling and practical takeaways, audiences break free from the fear of judgment, build resilience, and find the courage to show up as their full selves.
Audience: High Schools, Post-Secondary, Youth, Young Adults, Women
Bias, Belief and Belonging: Rewriting Narratives on Disability and Acceptance
This keynote explores Lauren’s journey of embracing her invisible physical disability after 30+ years, common biases and beliefs around disability, and the transformative power of disclosure in fostering personal acceptance, community, and workplace inclusion.
Audience: Corporations, ERGs, Education, Associations
Seeking Strength: How to Build Resilience Through Small Moments of Joy
In this keynote, Lauren shares her journey from hiding her disability to fully embracing who she is. Through personal stories, she reveals how the pursuit of normalcy holds us back from confidence and connection. She introduces a simple three-step framework to help audiences let go of self-doubt, own their story, and show up fully in their lives.
Audience: Corporations, ERGs, Associations
Past Clients & Speaking Engagements
About Lauren Pires
Yay, you're here! I'm Lauren Pires, an invisible disability speaker on resilience, joy and owning who you are.
Named #2 Inspirational Speaker of the Year in North America's largest inspirational speaking competition (Speaker Slam, 2023) and a global disability leader on the D-30 Disability Impact List (Diversability, 2024), I was born with Central Core Disease, a rare neuromuscular disorder. Although I live with 33% strength of the average person, I'm known for my yay-saying and 100% spirit.
I'm the first Canadian to receive the "But You LOOK Good" Inspiration Award (Invisible Disabilities Association, 2023), previously awarded to actor/singer Wayne Brady and model/author Yolanda Hadid. I'm also the first and only Invisible Disabilities Association Ambassador in Canada,
I've been featured on Breakfast Television, CityNews Toronto, RareDiseaseDay.org, GlobalNews.ca and more.
Watch some of Lauren’s signature speeches below:
In September 2024, Lauren Pires was a keynote speaker at the Archangel Summit (now known as DestinyFest) in Toronto, the #1 personal transformation and business growth event in Canada.
Lauren gives the audience of 1,000 leaders, founders, entrepreneurs and creatives a peek into her life with an invisible physical disability and her philosophy of creating your own joy. Known for having 33% strength of the average person but 100% spirit, Lauren asks you to consider: "if you're lucky enough to have 100% of your strength, imagine how much happier you might be if you shifted your perspective. Imagine how much happier you might be if you decided to look for joy.”
In this Words of Wisdom speech at Speaker Slam’s Resilience competition, Lauren Pires shares her journey of living with a rare muscle disorder, Central Core Disease, which gives her just 33% of the strength of an average person.
Diagnosed in her early 20s, Lauren faced fear, self-doubt, and the constant challenge of how to survive in the world. Through her story, Lauren offers words of wisdom on resilience, adapting to life’s difficulties, and finding strength in vulnerability. She reveals how she’s learned to celebrate moments of joy that keep her going, despite chronic fatigue and body pain.
Lauren reminds us that we don’t have to overcome our struggles to succeed—we can find purpose and joy through them. This talk is a reminder that resilience isn't about pretending things are perfect, but about finding gratitude and growth even when life feels difficult.
