Born in Newry in 1962, Leigh moved to Texas in 1995 with her first husband and baby son. She has been a disability activist and worked with various disability organisations since the age of 17. She moved back to Ireland a few years ago and pursued a third level education at the University College Cork, achieving a BSc. Hon in Criminal Justice in 2007. She is now working on completing a Masters in Criminal Justice at UCC. She currently lives in Limerick with her second husband and children. Her moving memoir 'Don't Tell Me I Can't : The Triumphant Story of a Thalidomide Survivor'.