Laura Hallissey

I live in West Cork, Ireland. I grew up in a small town called Bandon. I have two sisters and a brother. My dad is a solicitor, and my mom is a therapist and yoga teacher. I was born with Spina Bifida, which is a congenital condition that affects the spine. There weren’t a lot of treatments or therapies available in Ireland at that time, so my parents had to look further afield. They discovered the Peto Institute in Hungary, where they offered Conductive Education-- a method of learning for individuals with neurological and mobility impairments. This helped me develop skills and gave me the support I needed to learn to manage my disability better. 

 

My family and I travelled back and forth to Budapest for several years when I was a child. Later, my mom and dad set up the Peto Fund with other parents whose kids also had a disability. This allowed me and other children to receive the treatment we needed at home in Ireland. I learned a lot during this period, and  I also made some lifelong friends. I have been a wheelchair user for over 30 years now. 

 

When I left school, I studied radio and media studies. My first job was as a radio producer for a current affairs and lifestyle programme. I also worked in community theatre. I loved both these roles as they taught me the joy of working on a team and what it’s like to have a common goal to work towards. Later, I went on to study English.  I have a Master's in English Literature. I love books and I am an avid reader. I have also worked in Marketing and Digital Media. 

 

In 2018, I travelled to Minneapolis to take part in a yoga training with Mind Body Solutions after hearing the founder, Matthew Sanford, on a podcast. I was hooked from day one, and I have been attending MBS’s classes ever since. MBS is the reason I met and connected with the other members of the pod.  I look forward to digging into all things disability with you all. Let’s talk!