"They wouldn't hire me because I am deaf"- Laois businesswoman on being disabled in the workforce

A new business has opened in Laois this week, and its owner is campaigning for the rights of people with disabilities within the workforce. The owner, who struggles with a debilitating disability, highlighted the importance of providing access and support to those with disabilities in workplaces, having experienced ableism herself in the past.

Holistic Leighis Spa Massage in Rathdowney gets its name from Irish, leighis meaning cure/remedy. This new business offers many types of spa and beauty treatments, along with healing practices. 

Business owner Ioana Somesan is partially deaf, and suffers from severe tinnitus. Mrs Somesan uses an app on her phone that transcribes what those are saying to her, and responds aloud in return. 

While explaining how the app worked, she told me that her children each have phones they use to converse with her. 

“I’ll be working in the kitchen doing the dishes, and suddenly a little arm is waving a phone in my face and pointing,” Mrs Somesan said.

“My hearing has deteriorated greatly in the last several years,” Mrs Somesan explained.

“These have been the hardest few years of my life. I am so blessed and lucky to have my family, I have an amazing husband and two beautiful children aged six and eight. But one of the hardest things I face isn’t the pain I'm in, it’s how much I miss hearing their voices,” Ioana told me.

It was hard to remain unaffected as Mrs Somesan told me her story. She became involved in local politics in her hometown in Romania at the young age of 16, and has a passion for community involvement and planning.

When she moved to Portlaoise, Mrs Somesan worked as a home help assistant, and loved every second of it. She was forced to give up her job when her tinnitus reached unbearable levels.

“I was so heartbroken leaving, I’m actually emotional just thinking about it now,” she said.

“I cried so much when I had to leave, but I just couldn’t maintain that job with the pain and headaches I had from my tinnitus when it was at its worst,” she explained.

After leaving the job, Mrs Somesan approached many businesses that would not hire her due to her disability.

Pictured: Ioana Somesan, owner of Holistic Leighis Spa Massage.

When her tinnitus was at its worst, Mrs Somesan was left bedbound in excruciating pain.

“My migraines were horrific, and I had to suffer from severe gum infections from clenching my jaw so much. It’s so easy to fall into a hole when you’re in such chronic pain and see no way out,” she said.

“But I remember my son, who was only five at the time, trying to bring me breakfast in bed, and it reminded me just how lucky I was. I have my family, I have my mobility, and I can still watch the sunset,” Mrs Somesan said.

“The reason I love being involved in a community so much is that it keeps me busy. I love to help people, and it helps me take my mind off what I’m going through.” 

Once her business is up and running, Mrs Somesan hopes to offer a wide array of services to her community.

“I have had very traumatic pregnancies and births, and I know what it's like to be a new parent with no idea what to do,” she said.

“I am a fully trained doula, and I want to form a group for new parents to bring their babies along, where I can teach them what to do to relieve colic, or to encourage sleep patterns. Not just for mothers, but for fathers too. I’m qualified in baby massages, and I just want to help people who are in situations I have been in myself,” she said.

Mrs Somesan has a travel cot in her treatment rooms, so that parents no longer have to sacrifice self care. “When my babies were small, I felt I couldn’t go and do things for myself. I had nowhere to leave them, so I just sacrificed this time for myself. I want to help other parents avoid that struggle,” she said.

Mrs Somesan also intends to offer her massage services to palliative care patients in nursing homes, free of charge.

Her many qualifications include accreditation from the Irish Massage Therapist Association, along with being fully qualified in reflexology and reiki healing. Mrs Somesan has three other employees, including two local Ukrainian women.

“They’re struggling to get work- and I understand it, I’ve been there. I want to help them. They are fully qualified in their areas of expertise, and they are so fantastic at what they do,” she said.

“The quality of their work can speak for themselves. At the end of the day, all I want to do is help. Life isn’t easy, and if I can try to make it easier for others, I will,” Mrs Somesan said.

It was a long journey for Mrs Somesan to get to where she is today. The businesswoman encountered many obstacles due to a lack of accessibility. 

“There are a lot of supports available for those with disabilities, but there could be so much more. I love learning and bettering myself, but I’ve had to give up on so many evening courses because they don’t correctly cater to the hard of hearing,” Mrs Somesan explained.

“I once wrote a letter to a disability supports organisation, explaining that I am deaf and struggling to find work. Instead of sending me a letter or an email back, what do they do? They ring me! They read my letter, and ring me to discuss the issues I am facing as a deaf person!” Mrs Somesan told us.

“You have to be a little bit crazy to begin working on a business like this. I truly believe that the stars aligned when I met Brian. He took a chance on me and is the reason this business is even able to start,” said Mrs Somesan.

Mr. Brian Phelan is a local businessman and auctioneer in Rathdowney. The former county council candidate has supported Mrs Somesan in her business venture.

“There are so many people around Rathdowney with really good ideas,” said Mr Phelan.

“When I first met Ioana, I thought, ‘there’s a person who is going to make it’. She has these amazing ideas and this passion, and I’ve been mentoring her through the process. She is an absolute inspiration. We really need more people to look at a person’s abilities rather than their disabilities,” Mr Phelan said.

“Rathdowney is such a gem of a town, and there’s a real sense of community here. Ioana is just one of many in the town who has amazing ideas, and she needs our support. She’s helping to bring life back to Rathdowney, and we really need to rally around her and support her,” said Mr Phelan.

“We have so much potential in the town, I’m always looking for new ideas and ventures to support here,” Mr Phelan said.

Mrs Somesan and Mr Phelan are also considering a joint venture in establishing a charity group in Rathdowney dedicated to supporting those with disabilities in search of work.

“There are plenty of groups that will provide pamphlets and leaflets on where you should go, and what you should do, but we want to bridge that gap for people,” said Mrs Somesan.

“We want to offer that basic level of support where we can say, okay, here is a person with a disability in search of work.

Here is a business with a role they need filled- if we create an environment where a job applicant doesn’t feel fearful in asking for potential accommodations, and an employer can recognise the talents of their potential candidate, then we can help both the employer and the employee,” she said.

Ioana and her team are eagerly anticipating the opening of her business. 

Reflexology, cupping, ear candling, hot stone massages, aromatherapy and head massages are some of the spa treatments offered. Beauty therapy options range from gel and shellac nails, to acne treatments and facial chemical peels. There are many other treatments that the business currently offers, with more options to come as the business grows.

Holistic Leighis Spa Massage in Rathdowney is based on Pound Street. The grand opening will take place on Friday July 12 at 12pm.