Hanin’s story

24 hours ago
2 min read

“I’ve felt so much love and support throughout my journey.”

Hanin received her cochlear implant in 1997 when she was six years old. She and her mother visited The Hearing House a few times a week for more than 10 years, working with their audiologists and speech language therapists to learn how to access sound – an experience Hanin describes as life-changing. Hanin also attended a mainstream primary school in Auckland, where she credits a teacher aide, Liz Callaghan, with teaching her how to use her FM assistive listening system.

This is her story:

“Before I could even speak, I used drawing as a way to express my thoughts and emotions. I knew I wanted a career in Architecture & Interior Design - a field many in the Deaf community avoid due to its heavy reliance on communication, meetings, presentations, and construction site visits. But that didn’t scare me.

“I went on to study Spatial Design and Architecture in Auckland for eight years. After graduating, I worked at one of the world’s leading international engineering firms, as well as other companies across New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, UAE.

“I also worked as a professional wedding photographer on the side, and my photography has been featured in the well-known New Zealand Weddings & Honeymoon magazine.

“I also had the opportunity to share my personal journey with a large audience of high-profile people from Auckland Council, Ministry of Education, Beca and other major firms, speaking on how we all can make our workplaces more inclusive of those with disabilities, and also design for disabilities. Everyone laughed, smiled, and cried, and most importantly, they felt inspired by my story.

“Here I am…I hold three degrees (including a Master’s). I’ve built a successful life and career in New Zealand, spent time in the Middle East, and travelled around the world with my own hard-earned money. I’m living a life I once only dreamed of.

“All my life achievements are my parents’ trophies - the result of their hard work, sacrifices and faith in God.

“One of my purposes in life now is to give back to the New Zealand community, to help parents of deaf children and remind them not to lose hope. As a child, I witnessed my parents struggle over the years, and I know how important a strong support system is. At the same time, the support of my siblings, friends, The Hearing House and community played a role in shaping my journey, standing by me, encouraging me, and reminding me I was never alone. It wasn’t easy. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. I’ve felt so much love and support throughout my journey, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

“The moral of the story is this: Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t do. Follow your dream and passion, know your worth, put in the hard work and determination, and you’ll get there at the end.

“My story is a proof of that.”