SciAccess, a locally-based nonprofit working to make the STEM field more accessible for people with disabilities, was one of the inaugural winners of the NASA Space Tech Catalyst prize. Denna Lambert, inclusion innovation lead with the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, said that SciAccess was chosen in part because of its AstroAccess mission, an initiative to make space travel more accessible. Winners of the prize received $25,000.
"SciAccess has demonstrated keen understand and appreciation for the unique barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities who have interest in STEM fields," Lambert said in a prepared statement.
Anna Voelker, one of this year's Pittsburgh Business Times 30 Under 30 honorees, founded SciAccess in 2018 after winning a President's Prize at The Ohio State University. The organization began as a conference in 2019 focused on expanding accessibility in the STEM field. The organization grew to a team of 45 and continues to host conferences, with this year's occurring virtually this weekend. AstroAccess partners with the Zero Gravity Corp. to simulate a weightless environment to test how space travel can be more accommodating to individuals with disabilities.
"We are so excited to connect with NASA and its community partners to build the future of accessibility in space," Voelker said in a prepared statement. "This award will further empower us to continue our mission of breaking down barriers and creating a more equitable and accessible future for all, on Earth and beyond."
AstroAccess had its first zero gravity flight in 2022 and has continued research since. These flights have included people with varying disabilities, including blindness, deafness and hard of hearing individuals and individuals with mobility disabilities.
This research is not the only connection the region has with NASA. The government agency has an over $300 million contract with Astrobotic to develop a lunar lander to transport a NASA rover to the lunar south pole at the end of the year.
