Books are especially close to Alexandra Koch's heart. They make her laugh, they are part of her vocation and they can be an important medium for representing people with disabilities. Who (successfully) encourages her again and again and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Name: Alexandra Koch Age: 32 City: Frankfurt/Main, Germany Occupation: IT project manager, vocation: literary blogger Impairment: I have brittle bone disease and use a wheelchair.
Alexandra Koch: My cats, creative memes and absurd word creations in books (Often everything that has to do with disability is linguistically as far as possible separated from everything that "normal" people do. That's when stylistic blunders like the "disability concert" and the "disability chair" are created).
What have you always been wanting to do and why have you never done this so far? Alexandra Koch: The big one does not exist there at all. But there are always smaller things that I haven't dared to do or haven't had the chance to do yet: start a podcast, hold a workshop or take a trip to Canada.
Which person has influenced you most? And why? Alexandra Koch: This may sound incredibly corny, but that was probably my husband. Simply because he is my biggest supporter and goes every way with me. Whenever I'm struggling with something and don't really dare to do it, he encourages me to give it a try... and is usually right.
You have the chance to become the Commissioner for the Disabled. What would you do first? Alexandra Koch: Phew, good question. After all, there are still so many issues that need to be addressed. I would try to support projects that enable people with disabilities to live self-determined and independent lives. I would also free up a budget for education. Many problems in everyday life arise from the fact that there are still far too many prejudices and clichés in people's minds. Something must be done about this.
What is especially near and dear to you? Alexandra Koch: Literature is particularly close to my heart. Among other things, the authentic portrayal of people with disabilities is important to me, but also feminism and diversity in general. I believe that we need good representation. Only when all people are represented in the media will we all be accepted as normal members of society.
I would like to be ... Alexandra Koch: long enough on vacation to finally be able to read all my books. In everyday life I can hardly keep up with that.
Which question would you like to be answered the most? Alexandra Koch: Why do people find it so difficult to get involved with everything that is "different"? I don't understand why we can't just appreciate each other the way we are.
What I still wanted to say... Alexandra Koch: Read more books! So, now, as a literary blogger, I did everything that was necessary. After all, it's important to me to recommend good books to people, because in them we always find a piece of life.
What makes other people actually happy in life? If you ever wondered, you have come to the right place. In regular intervals REHACARE.com asks a varity of people always the same questions. What results from that? Read for yourself!