Community Day at REHACARE: Focus on society, barriers, and participation

At the start of Community Day, presenter Moritz Brückner emphasized what it's all about: stories, encounters, and exchange. Topics such as loneliness, the joy of shared activities and overcoming one's comfort zone are examples of what moves and connects the community.

It is particularly valuable that people who are otherwise only known through social media come together here in person: profile pictures become real faces, digital contacts become real encounters. Brückner encouraged the audience to ask questions and engage in conversation with each other – because that is precisely where the strength of a vibrant community lies.

Sabrina Lorenz emphasized how important visibility and recognition are for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. She spoke openly about her experiences with discrimination and ableism, about the differences between congenital and acquired disabilities, and about how formative grief processes can be when a diagnosis is made. Despite the challenges, she emphasized that all versions of life are valid and valuable – as is the pain that comes with them.

She gave a particularly impressive description of how differently she is perceived depending on whether she uses an oxygen device or a wheelchair: sometimes invisible, sometimes pitied, but rarely as she really is. "What does a person with a disability look like?" she asked the audience – demonstrating how deeply ableism is still rooted in society. For Lorenz, community and assistive devices are therefore crucial sources of self-determination: they enable encounters, participation, and freedom.

Christian Knizia spoke about a topic that affects many people but is rarely discussed: loneliness. He made a clear distinction between being alone and true loneliness, which can occur even when surrounded by people. For Knizia, who lives with rapidly progressing multiple sclerosis and has been in a wheelchair for some time, the diagnosis was a turning point. What helped him were psychotherapy, exchanges on Instagram, and involvement in social projects, such as at a railway station mission at Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Recently, he has also been living with a diagnosis of face blindness, which presents him with additional challenges: he cannot recognize faces, but he can remember voices. This makes exchanges within the community all the more important for him. Trade fairs such as REHACARE are very important to him because they enable encounters and show that, despite all differences, there are common barriers and experiences.

Ayleen Walter has lived with chronic illnesses since childhood, and a spinal cord injury led to her also using a wheelchair. "My world fell apart at that time," she recalled. She withdrew and didn't want to see any photos of herself. Today, she has a different perspective: you have to seize opportunities as they come. After years of what she calls "bureaucratic jungle", she wants to pass on her experiences and share tips with the community. She spoke particularly impressively about the long struggle to obtain her medical aids. It took two years or more before she received an urgently needed orthosis. Her conclusion: "Participation also takes place through assistive devices – and participation is a human right."

Thanks to this provision, she is now living an active life again: she travels, has discovered adaptive diving, and is committed to issues such as adaptive fashion and representation. For her, clothing and sport mean self-determination.

A special highlight of Community Day was the presence of the organizing team behind Kämpferherzen ("Fighter Hearts") at TREFFPUNKT REHACARE. The meeting usually takes place once a year in Kassel, Germany, featuring workshops, talks, and an diverse program. This time in Düsseldorf, it was the team itself – including community voices such as Sabrina Lorenz and Christian Knizia – who were there with their own corner.

Many visitors on site took the opportunity to strike up conversations, take photos, or simply experience this place of exchange. In doing so, the Kämpferherzen team brought a piece of the special vibe of the Kassel meeting to Düsseldorf: a home base for visibility, solidarity, and empowerment.

Originally published on: October 10, 2025
Last updated on: October 14, 2025