connect with Qais

Hey, I’m Qais. I’m 24 years old, a recent Furniture and Product Design graduate, from Nottingham.

I was born profoundly deaf into a hearing family, I first switched on my cochlear implant at the age of three. Through my childhood, my family and I learned a lot about how to live with my deafness, but when I turned 16, my world was turned upside down. I was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome and discovered I have an eye disorder called Retina Pigmentosa which causes night blindness.

Being deaf has brought many challenges and barriers in my life. During secondary school and college, I struggled with my mental health. I had very low self-esteem, no confidence, lack of communication skills and no true friends. As a result of my deafness, I felt that many teachers and professionals thought I would not do well in my exams or be able to go to university to pursue my chosen career. However, I passed my exams with good grades, went to college and successfully graduated with a degree. I am proud to say, that with the support and encouragement of my parents, charities and professionals experienced in working with deaf people, I have managed to prove them wrong! Despite all the obstacles I faced in my life, I overcame them and allowed myself to show people that anyone with disabilities can achieve their dreams. I persevered and gave my very best, day in, day out, to show people that disabilities do not define an individual.

I have been fortunate enough to travel across Europe, sharing my personal experiences with young people, families and organisations.

It is my mission, to inspire and make a positive difference to those who face challenges in their everyday lives. I wish to raise awareness about Usher Syndrome so that more people can become aware of this condition. My goal is to empower anyone with a disability to have the confidence to stand up, be themselves and embrace challenges.

If you think I could be the person to advocate for you or people you know, or love to help spread awareness within your company or workplace, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with you.