Keynote Speaker
Canada's Leading Invisible Disability Speaker
Lauren Pires is Canada's first and only Invisible Disabilities Association Ambassador. She is one of the few speakers in North America who brings both lived experience with invisible disability and a professional framework for helping organizations build cultures where people don't have to hide who they are.
Why Lauren
An invisible disability speaker who lives this work
Lauren Pires was born with Central Core Disease, a rare neuromuscular disorder. She has about 33% of the physical strength of the average person. Not 33% less. Just 33%. For over 30 years, she hid it, performing wellness and normalcy at a cost she didn’t fully understand until she stopped. She eventually left an 11-year career in festivals and events to pursue disability advocacy and speaking full time.
What she didn't realize was that hiding who she was took even more energy than the disability itself. That insight is the foundation of everything she teaches organizations today.
As Canada's first and only Invisible Disabilities Association Ambassador, Lauren has raised over $5,000 USD for the nonprofit and led the #LightUpForRare campaign to light up 26 landmarks across Canada. She brings authority, authenticity, and a practical framework that corporate teams, ERGs, and schools consistently describe as transformative.
Learn About LaurenWhat to Expect
What a Lauren Pires keynote on invisible disability actually delivers
Organizations consistently report that Lauren's keynotes shift something in the room. The shift shows up in people with disabilities and in people sitting right next to them. Here's what to expect.
A new lens on who's in the room
1 in 5 Canadians has a disability. Most of those disabilities are invisible. Lauren helps teams understand who they're actually working with, and why so many people are quietly struggling while appearing fine.
The cost of hiding
Lauren's most impactful message is one many employees have never heard articulated: hiding who you are burns energy. She names the psychological and physical toll of masking and why psychological safety isn't a nice-to-have.
Practical tools with real staying power
Lauren's Daily Yay framework gives individuals a concrete, repeatable practice for building resilience through joy. Teams leave with language, tools, and perspective they can apply immediately.
Authentic storytelling that lands
Lauren doesn't lecture. She shares her own story, including the moments that were hard, embarrassing, funny, and ultimately freeing, and invites the audience into theirs. People come off camera. Chats get deep. That's the point.
Tailored to your organization
Lauren consults with organizers in advance to understand your audience, industry, and goals. Whether it's an ERG event, an all-hands, a conference, or a school program, she meets people where they are.
Credibility media recognizes
Lauren has been featured on Breakfast Television, CTV Your Morning, Global News, CityNews, CHCH Morning Live, SiriusXM Canada, and more. Your audience will recognize the weight she carries.
Keynote Topics
Lauren's invisible disability keynotes
Each topic is available as a keynote, workshop, or panel, in person, virtually, or hybrid. Lauren works with you to tailor the right fit for your audience and goals.
Beyond What You See: Building Inclusion for Invisible Disabilities
Through personal stories and workplace insights, Lauren highlights the realities of invisible and non-apparent disabilities. She explores common myths, biases, and barriers, sharing practical ways organizations can foster awareness, empathy, and an inclusive culture so that all employees can thrive as their authentic selves. For corporations, government agencies, HR teams, and DEIA and employee wellness teams.
View full topic →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. For corporations, ERGs, education, and associations.
View full topic →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. For corporations, ERGs, and associations.
View full topic →Everyday Ableism and How to Recognize It
Through personal stories and real-world examples, Lauren breaks down what ableism actually looks like in everyday life, from comments made by strangers and loved ones to the biases we hold within ourselves. Students explore four forms of ableism, examine the prevalence of both visible and invisible disabilities, and leave with a clearer lens for recognizing and challenging ableist attitudes in their own communities. For high school students and educators.
View full topic →Case Studies
Invisible disability keynotes that moved the room
Lauren has delivered invisible disability keynotes for corporations, government agencies, ERGs, and schools across North America. Here are a few examples.
The Co-operators: Invisible Disabilities Week Keynote
Lauren was selected by The Co-operators' Visible & Invisible Differing Abilities ERG to deliver a company-wide invisible disability keynote. The session drew on Lauren's personal story and her Beyond What You See framework, creating space for employees to reflect on their own experiences and biases around disability. Following the session, multiple employees sent personal messages to the organizer describing the impact it had on them.
GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Lauren delivered a virtual invisible disability keynote for GroupHEALTH in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Virtual keynotes can be difficult to bring to life. Lauren's approach of combining personal story with interactive moments sparked discussion across the team and moved the audience in a way the organizer described as rare for a virtual setting.
Arc'teryx Equipment: Disability Inclusion 101
Lauren delivered a disability inclusion keynote for Arc'teryx's People Operations team, introducing employees to invisible disabilities and the workplace experience of people who navigate them. The depth of engagement during the session, with employees coming off camera and the volume of questions in the chat, demonstrated a level of impact the team hadn't expected.
What Clients Say
Hear it from the organizations themselves
What a great talk for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. A nice balance between sharing lived experience and weaving in moments of reflection for employees, to expand people's perspectives on disability inclusion and build respect and mutual understanding. Thank you to Lauren for taking the time to understand our needs and for being so responsive. It was a pleasure collaborating with you.
I had the privilege of hearing Lauren speak during Invisible Disabilities Week in October and she was fantastic. Her presentation was very informative and engaging. I would highly recommend her!
Lauren visited our college group to give a virtual speech 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. Her passion for advocacy and inspiration was evident. I would highly recommend her to other organizations looking for an eloquent and engaging guest speaker.
Formats Available
Flexible formats for every event
Keynote (45–90 min)
A full keynote experience for conferences, all-hands events, ERG sessions, and recognition events. In person or virtual.
Workshop (Half or Full Day)
Deeper learning for teams who want more than a keynote. Includes interactive exercises, small group discussion, and practical takeaways.
Virtual or Hybrid
Lauren has delivered compelling virtual sessions for audiences across North America. Technology is never an excuse for a flat room.
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