“A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.” - Sam Houston. KR was diagnosed with severe hearing loss at a very early age of three has dedicated herself to staunchly advocating, influencing and championing technologies that improve lives by enabling and enhancing inclusion and access. Most recently, KR worked with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Grassley on the Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017, which was signed into law in the same year. This law allows people with hearing impairments to purchase over-the-counter hearing aids at a fraction of the cost of the prescription devices making connecting to the world significantly more accessible for millions. KR has many recognitions to her name including the U.S. Congressional award, Silicon Valley's 2015 Top 40 Under 40 and 2017 Women of Influence.

As a board member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) along with being a disability advocate, what is your view of the role of technology in helping people with disabilities?KR: My lifelong mission is to continue to be a strong advocate for products that enhance the way we engage in the world. I never want anyone to struggle the way I grew up, just because of a disability or challenge that they face because the technology and the tools were there and never used to help members of our community. There’s no doubt in my mind that technology can help people gain confidence in all of their activities.

What are the important events that have changed the course of your life?KR: I was born three months premature, weighing one and a half pounds. Over the next several months, I remained in the ICU, struggling to learn to breathe, with alarms going off as often as 30 times an hour alerting nurses that I was in trouble. I flatlined and came back to life several times. Each minute was a fight to survive.
I consider myself lucky. I had strong parents to hold my tiny hands through it all. And I was surrounded by some of the best doctors in the field who made sure I had the best chance to survive. And I did. After months of fighting, I was finally able to go home. I went on to live a very healthy childhood with one side effect: at two and a half years old, I was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. The diagnosis would have a serious impact on my life’s journey for many years.
But unlike many other people with hearing loss, I was fortunate to have access to hearing aid technology that helped me to hear better and communicate with others, both personally and professionally. My hearing aids instantly became my lifeline to the world, and I depended on them to connect with people. However, they came at a hefty price: $5,000 each, and they weren’t covered by insurance. For ten years, I suffered from wearing one hearing aid because I couldn’t afford a second one. At one point, I was forced to decide between paying my rent or buying new hearing aids. That experience set me back financially three years. The challenges I’ve faced, along with the skills I’ve learned in response to those experiences, have inspired me to help others with hearing loss and to change the perception of what living with hearing loss means. Something as essential as hearing aids—which can cost more than $5,000 dollars for a basic model—should be as accessible as a smartphone.
The personal and heartbreaking stories they’ve shared with me about their struggles accessing affordable technology fuel my passion for change. This lead me to Capitol Hill to support Senator Warren’s team in advocating for the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017, and on August 18, 2017 history was made when the President signed the bill into law. Now hearing aids will become more accessible and affordable than ever. The new law will help reduce regulations and open up the market so that prices can drop and increase options for consumers.

What day to day challenges did you face in your early days of work? How has the workplace changed over the years with respect to inclusiveness?KR: With my hearing loss, I had to learn how to adapt to a noise-driven world by learning how to read lips to communicate and connect with others. It was a frustrating and challenging process for me, one which took many years to perfect. I constantly felt left out and wasn’t able to participate in social activities with my peers because I couldn’t hear properly. I worked hard to become aware of my environment and learned to be patient with myself and others. I still struggle that that today in the open office environments.
Over the last couple of years I’ve advised several major companies like Uber, Salesforce, Oath, Cisco, Capital One, and Google about how to be inclusive of the disability communities in product design and culture, which has really started to become a focus in the industry over the last few years. But, I still rarely see someone like me in the tech industry because companies don’t make people feel safe to self identify, especially if the disability is hidden, like hearing loss.

How can we motivate the society to be more inclusive?KR: For the last twenty years, I’ve advocated for greater access to more affordable, socially acceptable technology and for more widespread awareness of my community—not only so we can be included in society, but also so that we can prevent ignorance from taking another opportunity from someone to be fully engaged in the world. It’s more important than ever that we push for change to de-stigmatize hearing loss so that when those individuals eventually join our community, they don’t feel shamed for being different, but welcomed and supported.
This is especially important as we look to the next generation. Age-related hearing loss does not discriminate: in fact, 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of developing hearing loss

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?KR: I’ve had my fair share of challenges living with hearing loss. I was endlessly bullied at school and discriminated against because I wore hearing aids. My peers didn’t know how to act around me, so I was often left out of social situations. I resorted to hiding my hearing loss so that I could protect myself from further ridicule and misunderstanding, especially in the workplace. It wasn’t until years later, as an adult, that I realized how to use my struggle as a strength to promote advocacy and accessibility in hearing health.
I’ve often wondered what propagates stigma around hearing loss, illness, and disability, and I think it comes back to a lack of understanding. And I’m not simply talking about what’s appropriate to say or not (although that would be a start).

What are your other hobbies?KR: I love to cook, play the drums and I am very passionate about fashion. I truly believe that fashion has the power to destigmatize hearing loss and allow people to wear hearing devices proudly.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you like about that place?KR: My favorite place to visit is Maui. My wife and I were married there and it holds a very special meaning to me. We go back every year to connect and refresh.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?KR: Support them and help provide the tools and the resources that can guide them. But at the same time, let them be independent and discover who they are and what works for them. They will have successes and failures, but that’s how we learn and grow. Find other families in similar situations and support each other and share what has and has not worked.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to overcome adversity?KR: Speak up and use your voice, your stories, your successes, and your challenges to help educate and create change. Never stop. Keep going and keep supporting each other.

Any special message for our community?KR: I just want to thank all the people who fought for me to have a voice and an opportunity to create change in this industry.