Profile

Michelle Leahy is the founder and CEO of Leahy Life Plan, a firm dedicated to life planning for those with disabilities as well as their families. She understands disability challenges from both a professional and personal perspective. Her continuing success is helping families create a roadmap to meaningful adult supports through obtaining, maintaining and navigating long term government, community and financial supports for people with disabilities. She also assists with strategies for funding special needs trusts. In 2009, Michele started her journey by obtaining her Certification in Work Incentive Planning through an approved Social Security Administration (SSA) program established through the SSA Ticket To Work Program. Ms. Leahy has a M.S. in Non-Profit Management from Eastern University and an B.A. in Communications, Division of Humanities, from Penn State. She has 15+ years of varied professional work experiences before she established her own company 10 years ago. In 2019 Ms. Leahy was appointed by PA Governor Wolf to serve on the PA Rehabilitation Council (PaRC), an advisory board for vocational service and employment impacts people with disabilities. She serves as Social Media Chair where she assisted in creating a new website and social media platforms presence that continues to grow. Ms. Leahy was the first non-veteran Executive Board Member of the United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization, where she served for over 8 years. She has been a key player in organizations such as AHEDD (a specialized human resource organization), the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern PA, assisted in the establishment of the Bucks County Center for Independent Living and has served on many advisory boards advocating for individuals with disabilities. Ms. Leahy has spoken both nationally and locally on disability at PBI?s Special Education and Exceptional Children Conference PaTTAN, Spina Bifida National Conference, VoiceAmerica and on the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate. In 2018, she spoke on disability issues at the Philadelphia Women?s March on the steps of the Art Museum. Ms. Leahy?s commitment to cross disability has led her to being involved with physically disability, intellectually disability, autism and mental illness organizations including the Spinal Cord Injury USA, National Down Syndrome Congress, NAMI as well as many local and statewide organizations.