If we can make space accessible, we can make any space accessible

Meet Dwayne Fernandes, a man training to be the first double amputee in space. He brings you a powerful perspective based on his lived experience: in zero gravity, his disability disappears and human potential soars free. He explores how the social model of disability transforms our understanding of accessibility, showing that environments either create barriers or unlock possibility. His message is both challenging and hopeful: if we can make space accessible, we can make any space accessible. The 2025 Disability Oration presented by the Disability Leadership Institute Speakers Dwayne Fernandes AstroAccess Flight 2 Ambassador, accessibility consultant with IDEA Services, co-founder of Minds at Play, and advocate with the Australian Space Diversity Alliance Christina Ryan CEO and Founder of the Disability Leadership Institute