A Paralympian from Surrey has become the world's first disabled astronaut. And John McFall has said his selection will send a "powerful" message about what people with disabilities can achieve.The former surgeon will travel to Germany to begin feasibility studies at the European Astronaut Centre. He joined the latest European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut cohort last year after a rigorous selection process and record UK Space Agency investment into the ESA.https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-man-who-lost-leg-27149957
A man with a muscle-wasting condition said it “feels epic” to have completed a gruelling Ironman triathlon, seven minutes within the 17-hour cut-off time.Chris Stennett, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, said that, within two months of being diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) at the age of 26, he decided he “wasn’t going to let it hold me back”.Now 30, the copywriter has successfully tackled Ironman Austria for charity.https://www.indy100.com/news/man-with-muscle-wasting-condition-completes-gruelling-ironman-triathlon
A Paralympian who scaled Shropshire's Wrekin on his hands to raise money to help other wheelchair users said the achievement felt bigger than his gold medal win.Mickey Bushell set aside his own chair for the climb of the 1,334ft [406.6m] hill which took more than five hours.Before the challenge he said it was not too far for a pair of legs but a different matter "for a pair of arms".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-65938214
Disney's Pixar has unveiled its first non-binary character in the studio's newest feature release, Elemental.The film follows Wade, a 'go-with-the-flow' character, and Ember, a 'fiery' young woman, as they learn how much they have in common in a world determined to highlight all that sets them apart.Lake Ripple is the younger sibling to Wade, and goes by they/them pronouns.https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/elemental-becomes-pixars-first-movie-to-have-a-nonbinary-character-588606-20230618
A new airplane seat concept that allows wheelchair users to stay in their own chair throughout a flight was revealed this week by a subsidiary of US airline Delta, a move welcomed as a “huge step” by potential customers.“Unbelievably excited,” is how power wheelchair user and avid traveler Cory Lee described his reaction after a working prototype of the design was demonstrated by Delta Flight Products (DFP) at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany, a symposium spotlighting airplane cabin innovations.https://edition.cnn.com/travel/delta-flight-products-wheelchair-airplane-seat-design/index.html
Tegan Cooke, who has fibromyalgia, which causes fatigue, insomnia and pain in her joints, has made a range of elevated loungewear to support people with similar conditions.The 21-year-old, who is studying BA Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent University, has centred her designs on the use of pressure therapy to provide a small amount of compression to the shoulders and knees.The garments feature quilted shapes which contain about one kilogram of tiny glass beads to provide calm-inducing pressure without being overly heavy.https://www.livingwithdisability.org/post/the-fashion-collection-that-relieves-chronic-pain
