Stories of Men: Beneath the Surface

8. Living a full life with a learning disability, Ciara Lawrence

Ciara was born with a learning disability but she has refused to accept the limitations that society has outlined for her. Despite having struggles at school and being told that she would not be able to live a full life, she has drawn inspiration from others, including her supportive and successful cousin, The Edge from U2. This has helped her to find a way to unleash her own potential.“Just because you have a learning disability, it doesn't make you any different. It just means you might need some extra support in your life. And everybody has some kind of difficulty in their life. Everybody has barriers.” *********************Check out the <a href="https://storiesofmenpodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stories Of Men website</a> for more on this storyWe're also on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/storiesofmenpodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Storiesofmen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/storiesofmenpodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>A <a href="https://our-voices.captivate.fm/fascinate-productions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fascinate</a> Production

Traditional ideas of masculinity are dead, and now men struggle to find their place in the world. In Stories of Men, Alex Melia speaks to men who’ve overcome challenging circumstances to find out what they’ve learned about being a man in today’s world. Each guest shares a story from their life that has had a big impact on them.

Alex Melia is a businessman and podcaster from Atherton, Greater Manchester. He has built a business which now employs over 30 people. Ten years in, and the company sustains him without his involvement. He now travels the world on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life.

This podcast was previously Our Voices.