Resiliency

Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Carole St-Laurent.

I’m an author of children’s books, a singer-songwriter and, an Inspirational Speaker and self-advocate.

Being born with a type 2-3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), I use a motorized wheelchair at all times, and have been since I was ten years old; I am now in my early fifties (shhhh, don’t tell anyone).

My lectures focus on my life story, starting with “who I am” and what I do today. I explain that I’m an author of children’s books in English and French, with over nine books circulating on Amazon.

But for most of my life, I have been a singer-songwriter and performer of “Dance-Pop” music in English, French and Spanish.

I talk about my many trips to the Caribbean and the ambitious projects I have undertaken, such as;

· A three-day Latin flavoured festival called “Festival Euphoria.”

· Being President of the A.C. and manager of the “Accorderie de Rimouski,” a non-profit organization focused on exchanging services.

· In the hopes of acquiring the rights to a new type of disability pension, I instigated a petition obtaining almost 8000 signatures about the burden and unfair guidelines we suffer while being on social welfare; four years later, we won most of our demands.

· I have also fought to make home caregivers’ salaries better. Thus, making it easier to employ people since the wages are now more reasonable.

Tallying along, I chat about why I experimented with stem cell treatments in Mexico and, let’s not forget, my year of living in Cuba. My wedding. My # 1 Hit in Spain. My parasailing adventure and much, much more.

Then, I share what my life looked like when I was very young. How my disorder was discovered at around 2 ½ years old. Adolescence. Love. Sorrows. Mistakes.

At that point, I return to the present day with my current realities as well as my ultimate goals.

Now, depending on your needs, I can touch on the subject of medication, soft drugs, along with intimate relationships.

I adapt to all audiences, and I can also adjust the length of my conference. It can be as long or as short as you need it to be, ranging from ½ hour or up to 2 hours.

I hope you will give me the chance to inspire the young and not so young people of your organization, to go beyond what they think they can or cannot do.

Ambition, resilience and willpower have always been burning in me like a raging fire, and that is what’s enabled me to do everything I have done so far.

Thanks for your consideration,

Carole St-Laurent

Home: 418-727-5849

Cell: 418-896-9091

Carole.stl@hotmail.ca

Rainbowgal.com