My personal journey - 
Insights and Inspiration

Insight into my world
My name is Elisa, and I want to show you a little bit of my world. It's a world full of problems, but also full of passion and a strong desire to make a difference. I care deeply about encouraging diversity, equality, and inclusion, and I will always help those who have been through what I have.

The Diagnosis Impact
When I was in my twenties, the diagnosis of "HEARING IMPAIRMENT" hit me like a smack in the face. I was filled with questions like "Why me?" and "What will happen to me now?" and I felt quite overwhelmed. My uncertainty turned into an unexplainable lack of confidence and worries about the future. I felt like I was falling without any hope. But a few weeks following the diagnosis, I got my first hearing aids, and a world I had nearly forgotten about opened up to me again. A world filled with noise, people, and social activities. I didn't know that the city had sounds like a babble of voices, cars, and trams, and that they could be so loud. It took a lot of power and energy to get used to my new hearing aids and these new sounds, but looking back, I'm so grateful I went through these hearing experiences again. At first, I was afraid and insecure, so I hid my hearing aids. But with time, I learned to see my experiences and the new communication skills I gained as strengths instead of flaws.

Professional experiences and being open-minded
As a nurse on the general and intensive care wards, I treated a lot of older patients with hearing problems who were dealing with the same problems. Working as a social worker with unaccompanied minor refugees has also made me want to be more honest about my hearing loss and the linguistic barriers that occur. Knowing that I'm not the only one who has trouble with language showed me and others that hearing aids aren't a bad thing; they're a method to get to a rich and beautiful world. This openness is what gives me strength and courage!

Always facing new problems and finding new strengths
My hearing gets worse every year, which will affect my future. It isn't always simple to find new strength from this point of view, to be honest. But my concern made me want to study German Sign Language (DGS). I never would have thought that talking to people in the beer garden in DGS could be so beautiful and calming. On the other hand, going to pubs with people who can hear is often tiring for me because I have trouble following the talks. These are just a few instances of the many things that make it hard to get along with others in both your personal and professional life.
That is why it is my personal duty to motivate others, particularly the deaf and hard of hearing, to follow their goals, dreams, and desires. I'm confident that EVERYONE is worth it and capable of achieving anything!

Commitment to Inclusion
With genuine dedication, I'm committed to fostering inclusion, recognizing that everyone possesses unique abilities and contributes significantly to the community — regardless of LGBTQIA+ identity, age or disabilities. I make sure that we are seen at all and that we are given a chance in the primary labor market by asking questions, providing information, offering assistance, and promoting. I'm interested in the skills and abilities that are so crucial in our society. This isn't the end of my work. I also think that leaders have a responsibility since both points of view need to be taken into account in order to tear down obstacles to true diversity, equality, and inclusion.

I believe that increasing awareness is the best way to convey how vital it is to be open to diversity and inclusion. I support spreading awareness to emphasize how vital it is to be open to diversity and inclusion.

Building an inclusive world together
If you think that talking, getting one-on-one coaching, or working together could help you grow and inspire others, then don't hesitate to get in touch with me. We can do amazing things when we work together. I can't wait to talk to you and work together to make the world a better place for (almost) everyone.

- Your Elisa -