‘Don't be afraid to ask for support’

Timo, you have been hard of hearing since childhood. What obstacles do you face in your everyday life at ETH?
That depends on whether I'm talking about my studies or my current everyday life as a PhD student. At the moment, I'm mostly in smaller or the same rooms: in the lab, in seminar rooms or in lecture halls with induction loops. These send the sound directly to my hearing aid. This eliminates annoying background noise. At the moment I have hardly any problems in my everyday life.

What was the situation like when you were a student?
It was very different. I was constantly in new rooms with unfamiliar infrastructure and new professors. Especially in old buildings, the infrared systems were often unreliable. The signal was sometimes interrupted by people in front of me, or the technology was simply broken. Some lecturers also underestimated the importance of using the acoustic system - even in small rooms. I often sat further forward and brought my own microphone and gave it to the lecturer.

What was your experience of this?
Overall positive. Most lecturers and students have been open and helpful. Once a lecturer refused to use my microphone. That was annoying, but it was an exception.

Were there any obstacles at the beginning of your studies that were later reduced or even eliminated?
Yes, some things have improved over time. Infrared systems are now tested regularly. This prevents faulty systems from going unnoticed for a long time. There are now maps for the ring lines showing where they work well. Many lecturers are also very open to the issue of accessibility.

What is your experience of how Swiss society deals with disability?
In direct contact, I often sense a positive development. Colleagues lose their fear of contact and voluntarily take the microphone from me when they want to speak.
But I also encounter insecurity in everyday life. Some people suddenly switch to High German or simplify their sentences, even though I continue to speak Swiss German. Sometimes it seems a little strange. It shows that many people don't really know how to deal with being hard of hearing. Nevertheless, the openness of the people prevails. I find that very nice.

What would you recommend to new students at ETH?
It is difficult to give general advice because there are so many different approaches. But one thing that certainly can't hurt is to ask, ask, ask! I've learnt that people at ETH are much more helpful and open than you might think. And there are so many services for all kinds of problems. So my tip is: don't be afraid to ask for help. A solution can usually be found.