Invisible disability speaker
Resilience expert
Accessibility advocate
Helping organizations and individuals explore disability-related biases and beliefs and discover their “daily yay,” so they can build resilience through joy.
Based in Mississauga (Greater Toronto Area), Ontario, Canada.
As Seen On…
What Clients Are Saying
Lisa Paterson, VP, Operations & Pre-Claim Services,
GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions
“I had the pleasure of inviting Lauren to speak at a company event [for] the Int'l Day of Persons with Disabilities. She was a delight to work with...very responsive following my inquiry and incredibly collaborative in building a presentation that would work for our team. Her presentation was phenomenal and very well received. It can be difficult to create engagement in a virtual setting but Lauren did a great sparking discussion, and all of us were moved and inspired by her story.”
Kurtis Chow, Senior Specialist, People Operations | People & Culture
ARC’TERYX Equipment
"I feel so great about how this Lunch & Learn went. When I saw the depth of questions that showed up in the chat, and some people who came off camera, I was like "this had real impact". It was an excellent 101 and it just opens up so many more questions on this topic, I really wish we had more time."
Lauren Pires’ Keynotes
There Is No Normal: 3 Steps to Owning Who You Are
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.
Perfect for: 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.
Perfect for: Corporations, ERGs, Education, Associations
Seeking Strength: How to Build Resilience Through Small Moments of Joy
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.
Perfect for: Corporations, ERGs, Associations
More of What Clients Are Saying
Urmila Puran, Student Life Coordinator,
University of Guelph-Humber
”I had the opportunity to work with Lauren at our Annual Last Lecture event. Lauren attended as our Alum Speaker. She delivered a motivating and impactful speech to the Class of 2024. Working with Lauren was seamless and fun. She followed the guidelines of what was requested and put deep thought into what she wanted to say. This made it easy for us to approve her speech ahead of the deadline. Lauren is a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her for your next motivational engagement!”
Estelle Gonzalez-Fadel, Curriculum Head/Teacher,
Peel District School Board
“As part of Asian Heritage Month, Lauren [spoke to] staff and students [at Clarkson Secondary School] for our Speaker series. She shared her own story and lived experiences with overcoming adversity and embracing joy; emphasizing the significance of owning who you are and finding the "yay" in all of life's circumstances. She was inspiring, innovative, and diverse with her delivery, and her desire to connect with the crowd was evident - which is essential for speaking to teens and educators.”
Past Clients & Speaking Engagements
About Lauren Pires
Lauren Pires is an award-winning speaker on resilience, joy, and self-acceptance. Born with Central Core Disease, a rare neuromuscular disorder, she navigates life with 33% of the physical strength of the average person—but her unwavering spirit is at 100%.
Named #2 Inspirational Speaker of the Year in North America's largest inspirational speaking competition (Speaker Slam, 2023) and recognized globally on the D-30 Disability Impact List (Diversability, 2024), Lauren is a trailblazer in the disability advocacy space. She made history as the first Canadian recipient of the prestigious "But You LOOK Good" Inspiration Award (Invisible Disabilities Association, 2023), joining past honorees like Wayne Brady and Yolanda Hadid.
As Canada’s first and only Invisible Disabilities Association Ambassador, Lauren has raised over $5,000 USD for the nonprofit. She played a key role in the global Rare Disease Day #LightUpForRare campaign, leading the lighting of 21 monuments across 14 Canadian cities in 2025, and serves as an Ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program.
Lauren believes resilience isn’t just about overcoming obstacles—it’s about embracing joy, saying yes to life, and showing up as your whole self. Through her speaking, she inspires others to own their story, stand in their truth, and find strength in the unseen.
Lauren has been featured on Breakfast Television, CityNews Toronto, GlobalNews.ca, RareDiseaseDay.org and more. She’s based in Mississauga (Greater Toronto Area), Ontario, Canada.
Watch some of Lauren Pires’ signature speeches below:
Even More of What Clients Are Saying
Lilly Shaw, VP of Accessibility,
Chronic Health Advocates at George Washington University
”Lauren visited our college group, Chronic Health Advocates, to give a virtual speech titled There is No Normal: 3 Steps to Owning Who You Are in honor of Rare Disease Month. Through her speech, she inspired our audience to think critically and reflect on their lived experiences through reflection exercises and discussion. Her presentation was interactive and engaging, even for a college audience. It was clear she was comfortable and practiced in public speaking, and her passion for advocacy and inspiration was evident. I would highly recommend her to other organizations looking for an eloquent and engaging guest speaker.”
Somto Onyewuchi-Ohiri, Breaking it Down Workshop Series Organizer
Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
“Lauren has a remarkable talent for educating listeners and turning her story into something anyone can connect with. What stood out most was her ability to connect with the young audience — whether through thought-provoking questions, relatable examples, or clear, practical takeaways.
If you’re looking for a speaker who can educate, inspire, and energize your audience, Lauren is the perfect choice. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to invite her back and would highly recommend her for any educational or inspirational event.”
