As space programs push for greater inclusion of people with disabilities, other sectors on Earth, such as healthcare, could follow suit.
ADVERTISINGSpace research could be a leading example of how healthcare can take steps toward greater inclusion, according to a new study.
Dr. Farhan Asrar, associate professor at the University of Toronto and one of the authors of the article published in Naturespoke about the discrimination faced by people with disabilities in the healthcare sector.
Asrar works with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) on space health and medicine and their potential application on Earth.
“I have always been interested in connecting medicine and space science, in terms of how space technology innovations in the space sector can help Earth-based applications, be it in healthcare, climate change or the environment,” Asrar told Euronews Health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 135 million people with disabilities in Europe. They face a variety of challenges in accessing health services, be they financial, physical or availability problems.
The European Economic and Social Committee reported last year that people with disabilities have poorer health outcomes and a lower quality of life, tend to die earlier and Life expectancy There is a gap of 10 to 20 years and they are also more likely to be affected by health emergencies.
“The buildings of our clinics, the equipment we have, the training and basically the infrastructure for healthcare are built by people who, for the most part, do not have disabilities. So it does not always take into account what their needs are and what challenges they may have,” Asrar added.
Be inspired by pioneers
Asrar mentioned “inspiring” initiatives such as the appointment of John McFall by ESA as the first “parastronaut” in November 2022.
McFall is currently involved in the Fly! feasibility study, which is investigating the possibility of an astronaut with a physical disability undertaking a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
“The study examines several aspects of this process and focuses on five main areas: medicine, training, crew support, spacecraft operations and ISS operations,” ESA wrote in a blog post last month.
The institution also stated that to date it has “not identified any showstoppers” that would prevent a paraastronaut from participating in a space mission.
Asrar also mentioned his collaboration with Dana Bolles, an aerospace engineer born with disabilities who has worked at NASA since 1995, advocates for greater inclusion, and is one of the authors of the paper.
“We can hopefully inspire healthcare and other sectors to take the same steps as the space sector and move towards greater inclusion and diversity,” Asrar said.
Regarding the funding needed to update infrastructure or training, Asrar said he would “view these financial changes as an investment in the future. We would make these changes so that people with disabilities can reach their full potential.”
