"I am a blind fish," says Lina Maria Kotschedoff about herself. And every day she shows the world that her visual impairment does not restrict her. Especially with her professional experiences she wants to motivate people to believe in themselves and to fight for their own dreams. How else she would break down walls in the people’s minds, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Name: Lina Maria Kotschedoff Age: 32 City: Düsseldorf, Germany Occupation: Fulltime MBA student at Otto Beisheim School of Management (WHU) Impairment: I am a blind fish. That means I have a visual impairment called progressive cone-rod dystrophy.
When did you last laugh heartily and what about?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: This Monday morning when I showed my roommate the flamingo dance.
What have you always been wanting to do and why have you never done this so far?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: Skiing, because I am afraid of hurting myself and others.
Which person has influenced you most?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: My mother because from the very beginning (disability was diagnosed in 1992) she made me believe in myself and motivated me to trust in my dreams. Her motto is: Disability is no hindrance. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
You have the chance to become the German Federal Commissioner for the Disabled. What would you do first?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: An image campaign with real stories – including good and bad aspects – from the perspective of a person with disability and a counterpart, who are integrated in "normal" life. The goal would be to raise awareness, motivation and courage among employers and people with disabilities.
Your life is made into a film: Who would represent you?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: I would play my part on my own because it is the most convincing way to do it.
I would like to be ...
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: a Formula 1 pilot.
Which questions would you like answered the most?
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: Why did the universe give me this disability and such a strong character?
What I finally want to say...
Lina Maria Kotschedoff: Every person has a disability – some in a hidden way, others have one which is socially accepted or obviously. When we are aware of this fact, we do not longer need any rates.
What makes other people actually happy in life? If you ever wondered, you have come to the right place. In regular intervals REHACARE.de asks a varity of people always the same questions. What results from that? Read for yourself!