To The Moon & Beyond

July is Disability Pride Month! It’s during this time that I like to share as much as I can about my community because we’re a resilient group, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.

A major win in the disability community is when we collectively inch closer to better employment equality. We have come a long way in this fight. As a matter of fact, we’ve come so far that a person with a disability may just be going to space for work.

John McFall, who lost his leg at age 19 in a motorcycle accident, has been selected to take part in a study sponsored by the European Space Agency that focuses on astronauts who have physical disabilities. Specifically, the study will examine how the human body adapts to gravity while using a prosthetic leg in space. How cool is that? Read more about it here.

John is a bronze-medal Paralympian from the Beijing Games, an NHS Surgeon, and a father of three. It will take time for his space trip to be finalized, but when it does happen, John will be the first person with a physical disability to go to the moon. That’s another impressive accomplishment to add to the resume!

People with disabilities continue to accomplish more goals than ever before. From pop singer Billie Eilish, who has Tourette's syndrome and is out here making hit after hit, to poet Amanda Gorman, who has an auditory processing disorder and speech articulation issues while being in high demand to speak for audiences by invitation, the disability community continues to show up and do amazing things.

There’re no limits to the abilities of people with disabilities. If we have the will to Make Things Happen, all systems are “go”!

I invite you to join in and celebrate your fellow brothers and sisters with disabilities this month and every month, for we are truly a great community that’s reaching out to shoot for the moon and beyond.