What has been your biggest challenge so far that you have mastered – and what has helped you?
Christian S.: Everything started with my outing in 2003 and "ended" with the start of my social commitment in 2020. In chronological order: my outing 2003, separation of my parents with psychodrama, 2005/2006 surgery of my mother (which changed everything), 2007 – reversal of the relationship between mother & child (severe depression & resignation of my mother), 2014 death of mother-in-law & mother within 6 months, most severe depression 2014 - 2018, 2017 MS diagnosis and the following years until I realized that things cannot continue like this. It "clicked". Since then, I have been advocating for people like me. From all my experiences I now try to transform something positive and to stand by others as a contact person as well as a representative.
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?
Christian S.: Reaching out to people with disabilities and involving them in design/processes rather than believing to know what these people want. Barriers are mainly in people's minds, that's where we must start.
If nothing would be impossible: Who would you like to meet one day and why?
Christian S.: Kate Mulgrew, an US-American actress who is unknown to most people in Germany. She played the main role in the series "Star Trek: Voyager", one of the most formative characters of my youth until this very day. I’d call her an idol.
What else I wanted to say ...
Christian S.: No matter how difficult a day may be, how strong the pain and limitations may be: Please never give up on yourself. Always stand up more than you fall. Never give up!