Marie Stock – That's how she rolls

What makes a day a good day to you?

Marie Stock: A good day for me is a day when I go to bed with a smile.

Which auxiliary means or daily living aids are indispensable for you?

Marie Stock: In order to move around independently, I am dependent on lower leg orthoses and crutches in everyday life. For many years I have been looked after by the Pohlig company, which finds a creative solution for every problem, for which I am very grateful!

What would you like to see from society and your fellow people in dealing with people with disabilities? 

Marie Stock: I would like to see more openness. Communication is the key to breaking down barriers – both spatial barriers and barriers in the mind.

Which assistive device would urgently need to be invented and/or improved?

Marie Stock: I would like to see cooler and sportier orthotic shoes that a teenager would also like to wear.

What has been your biggest challenge so far that you have mastered – and what has helped you to do so?

Marie Stock: My biggest challenge was a 362 kilometers bike tour from Passau to Vienna, during which we collected donations for the Stiftung Ambulantes Kinderhospiz München (Munich Outpatient Children's Hospice Foundation). We were especially helped by all the people who supported us in various ways to realise this project.

What can the assistive technology industry learn from the Corona pandemic to make life easier and/or better for people with disabilities in the future?

Marie Stock: Facilitating access to home-based care would help some people who, for example, cannot attend counselling appointments in presence.

If nothing would be impossible: Who would you like to meet one day and why?

Marie Stock: I have been able to meet incredibly nice and special people who are not "well-known". That's why I look forward to meeting more great people, and they don't have to be celebrities. Everyone has their own story that should be heard!

What was your best REHACARE experience?

Marie Stock: I have never visited REHACARE before, but I would love to attend. 

What I finally want to say...

Marie Stock: You should never let other people tell you what you supposedly can't do. You can achieve anything if you really want to – sometimes you can't do it alone or you have to take a detour. But one day you will reach your goal!