Leeanne, a self-published author with a learning disability, transformed her passion for storytelling into a business with the support of key mentors and opportunities like the RSA Fellowship Award.
Despite early setbacks and a lack of family support, she now empowers others by sharing her journey and advocating for better support systems for people with learning disabilities.
Meet Leeanne
I am Leeanne and I have a learning disability. I am originally from Fife but now I live in South Lanarkshire with my friend. In my spare time I like to read and write. I used these skills to publish my own stories. I am starting my own business to train others to support people with learning disabilities.
Where it all started
Since I was young, one of my passions has been to write stories. As I got older, I had opportunities through social work to deliver presentations on my care journey. They noticed I had a talent for writing and told me to apply for the RSA Fellowship Award. I won the award, which gave me the funds to create a book. Because of this, I started writing my first book in 2016, which was self-published in 2021.
I was not being supported by my family to pursue my talents. This was from a young age. They made me feel incapable, and I started to believe it.
It made me feel sad.
Assume I Can
A lot of people with learning disabilities don’t have the right support to start a business or believe in themselves, like me.
There are a lot of assumptions that people with learning disabilities are not capable of starting a business, and they face challenges because of their learning disability.
I have proven that we are more than capable by winning an award, writing a book and selling copies.
I didn’t think I would, but I believe in myself now because I have the right support around me.
What needs to change?
People with learning disabilities need the same support as people to believe in them. There needs to be more awareness of what people with learning disabilities can achieve.
This may be from family, friends, support workers, religion and organisations.
There needs to be more opportunities and awards that people with learning disabilities are encouraged to apply for.
Support made the difference
My career was one person who believed in me. She helped me through everything in my life, for example, with homework at school, baking at home, getting into college, and she taught me to read from a very young age.
She stepped in to be my parent when I didn’t have the support from my birth family, and I was very vulnerable. Not only did she get me into books, but she also helped proofread my writing and went to courses with me.
When I won the RSA award, Linda from SCLD went to every edit meeting with me to discuss the publishing process. She knew I lacked support from my birth family, too.
Because of that kind of support, I now believe in myself, and I write powerfully because of it.
I am here – with talent, time and ideas.
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