Experienced Motivational Speaker — Offering a Unique Perspective
Do the impossible.
Be your own kind of beautiful.
I’m Hannah Thompson. Welcome to my website, InHannahsWords. I’m a passionate, experienced motivational speaker. I have cerebral palsy and that allows me to offer a unique point of view as a keynote speaker on topics like living with a disability and disability awareness, diversity, and anti-bullying. I love what I do and am thankful every day for the gift of being able to spread a positive message to the world. If you have an upcoming engagement and are searching for a motivational speaker, please send me an email and let’s get started!
Welcome to My Story
I believe I was born to make people realize that the impossible is possible…
…with hard work, good people, and a ton of motivation, anybody can do their version of impossible.
When I was born, the doctor made a mistake that permanently damaged my brain. It lead to cerebral palsy and the onset of dystonia, a movement disorder causing my limbs to move involuntarily. I use a wheelchair to get around and a communication device to speak.
My Diagnosis Doesn’t Define Me
Mom and Dad made sure I had a typical childhood. I went to a typical preschool and crawled around playing with the other kids. Throughout school I was mainstreamed. I don’t have cognitive impairments, so I was lucky enough to be provided with an instructional aide to help take notes, get stuff out of my backpack, and with the occasional dissection of an animal.
Gradually, I came to realize that my medical diagnosis doesn’t define who I am, my values, or my quality of life.
Finding My Place
Like many adolescents, I faced the challenge of discovering who I was and where I fit in. Like any good parents, mine understood I had to have balance in my life. I went to speech therapy, but I needed more. Many “normal” kids didn’t want to socialize with me since I was the “different kid."
I desperately needed a niche in high school, and I think the extracurricular activity I ended up fitting into was the biggest shock to my parents — I announced I wanted to audition for the speech team! They probably thought how is a girl who can’t speak going to be able to do it!
I made the Glenbrook South High School Speech Team three years in a row and my teammates were a group of talented and intelligent kids that accepted me. I am so grateful that the school administrators and coach gave me a chance, one that ultimately sowed the seeds of my speaking career.
From that point, I thrived. I joined a sorority in college, took on a job that required managing people, lived independently in a residence hall, and developed a sense of faith in Lord Jesus Christ.
Independence and Purpose
While at college, I met a professor who clearly envisioned my speaking career, while I had a very blurred, mysterious vision that I knew something was possible but struggled to define.
Then, ironically, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago asked me to speak about going to college independently. My speech at the Institute was really the first day of my career as a speaker!
You might have noticed that everything was building me up to achieve the highest level of independence. I truly believe that was God doing the incredible work He constantly does in all of our lives.
With that, I’d like to say…
Do Your Impossible!
Disregard Your Limitations — Choose Your Dreams
