3.A. Para-Astronauts (session is open to the public)

Location

Student Union 323-A

Start Date

7-3-2022 2:15 PM

End Date

7-3-2022 3:45 PM

Description

  1. The Right to Access/The Right to Accessibility / Sherri Wells-Jensen
    If barriers to outer space for disabled people were wholly attitudinal, Earth orbit would already be populated with (at least a handful of) disabled people working among the nondisabled majority. The reality is that there are complicated questions to answer both about how disabled people will live and work in space and about how standard equipment, control systems and policies should be modified to suit their needs. The questions cannot be answered theoretically; we need eal observations and experiments. On October 17, 2021, Mission: AstroAccess (MAA) launched a crew of twelve disabled people on a zero G parabolic flight during which they conducted observations and experiments designed to begin to answer question such as: How will people with mobility disabilities move about the cabin and anchor themselves in place? What alert systems are useful for Deaf astronauts? How will blind people stay oriented and find their way around the cabin? After introducing the MAA approach, this paper will briefly summarize what we learned from flight one, and set out the goals for flight two and beyond.
  2. What does ‘ability’ mean in space? / James Schwartz
    In this talk I will ask whether our current understanding of concepts such as ‘ability’ and ‘disability’ are suitable for use in the context of crewed spaceflight activities. Perhaps the greatest practical challenge confronting the creation of fully accessible places on Earth concerns the paucity of political and cultural motivation for redesigning physical and social environments into accessible ones. However, because neither any physical nor social environments yet exist in space, it is within our collective power to determine how accessible or inaccessible spaceflight will be. Informed by Melinda Hall’s “cultural model” of disability, which represents an even more progressive approach to disability compared to the well-known “social model”, I provide a reassessment of what it means to be abled (and to be disabled) in space. I argue that principles of Universal Design should be employed, both with respect to the physical and the social aspects of living in space. Thus, the goal of full inclusion of persons, (physically or mentally) disabled or otherwise, is both desirable and accomplishable, provided we initiate spaceflight projects with a culture of inclusion (as opposed to a culture of exclusion).
  3. The right to access/The right to accessibility / A. J. Link
    The infinite expanse of outer space presents unique challenges and opportunities for the advancement of human space activities. As human space activities continue to increase at an exponential rate, humanity must grapple with the human rights implications. Within this context, the rights of persons with disabilities must be included – specifically the right to access or the right to accessibility. Society must strive to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the same rights and opportunities in space that will be granted to nondisabled individuals.
    Humanity must work to create an outer space environment that is inclusive and accessible all who wish travel amongst the stars and other celestial bodies. Recent initiatives from the European Space Agency, NASA, and organizations like Mission AstroAccess have highlighted the importance of including disabled people in outer space activities. The increased involvement and representation of individuals with disabilities in space missions is something that should be intentionally implemented. There should also be recognition of the past contributions of disabled individuals to the advancement of human spaceflight. The legacy of past and current disability advocates should help guide accessibility efforts in outer space exploration. As we grow into an interplanetary species, we must include the principles of inclusion and accessibility – especially when we view accessibility as the human right to access.

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Mar 7th, 2:15 PM Mar 7th, 3:45 PM

3.A. Para-Astronauts (session is open to the public)

Student Union 323-A

  1. The Right to Access/The Right to Accessibility / Sherri Wells-Jensen
    If barriers to outer space for disabled people were wholly attitudinal, Earth orbit would already be populated with (at least a handful of) disabled people working among the nondisabled majority. The reality is that there are complicated questions to answer both about how disabled people will live and work in space and about how standard equipment, control systems and policies should be modified to suit their needs. The questions cannot be answered theoretically; we need eal observations and experiments. On October 17, 2021, Mission: AstroAccess (MAA) launched a crew of twelve disabled people on a zero G parabolic flight during which they conducted observations and experiments designed to begin to answer question such as: How will people with mobility disabilities move about the cabin and anchor themselves in place? What alert systems are useful for Deaf astronauts? How will blind people stay oriented and find their way around the cabin? After introducing the MAA approach, this paper will briefly summarize what we learned from flight one, and set out the goals for flight two and beyond.
  2. What does ‘ability’ mean in space? / James Schwartz
    In this talk I will ask whether our current understanding of concepts such as ‘ability’ and ‘disability’ are suitable for use in the context of crewed spaceflight activities. Perhaps the greatest practical challenge confronting the creation of fully accessible places on Earth concerns the paucity of political and cultural motivation for redesigning physical and social environments into accessible ones. However, because neither any physical nor social environments yet exist in space, it is within our collective power to determine how accessible or inaccessible spaceflight will be. Informed by Melinda Hall’s “cultural model” of disability, which represents an even more progressive approach to disability compared to the well-known “social model”, I provide a reassessment of what it means to be abled (and to be disabled) in space. I argue that principles of Universal Design should be employed, both with respect to the physical and the social aspects of living in space. Thus, the goal of full inclusion of persons, (physically or mentally) disabled or otherwise, is both desirable and accomplishable, provided we initiate spaceflight projects with a culture of inclusion (as opposed to a culture of exclusion).
  3. The right to access/The right to accessibility / A. J. Link
    The infinite expanse of outer space presents unique challenges and opportunities for the advancement of human space activities. As human space activities continue to increase at an exponential rate, humanity must grapple with the human rights implications. Within this context, the rights of persons with disabilities must be included – specifically the right to access or the right to accessibility. Society must strive to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the same rights and opportunities in space that will be granted to nondisabled individuals.
    Humanity must work to create an outer space environment that is inclusive and accessible all who wish travel amongst the stars and other celestial bodies. Recent initiatives from the European Space Agency, NASA, and organizations like Mission AstroAccess have highlighted the importance of including disabled people in outer space activities. The increased involvement and representation of individuals with disabilities in space missions is something that should be intentionally implemented. There should also be recognition of the past contributions of disabled individuals to the advancement of human spaceflight. The legacy of past and current disability advocates should help guide accessibility efforts in outer space exploration. As we grow into an interplanetary species, we must include the principles of inclusion and accessibility – especially when we view accessibility as the human right to access.