IAC Sydney 2025 sets a new bar for accessibility: progress, ambition, next steps
- Jacqui Tyack
- Oct 7
- 5 min read
Thanks to Dwayne Fernandes, National Committee member.
The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) Sydney 2025 was a landmark event for accessibility and inclusion in the global space community. As announced on the official IAC 2025 website, the organising team has made significant strides to ensure that the event was accessible to all participants. At the same time, a deeper look at the internal Accessibility Statement reveals even more ambitious goals and ongoing efforts, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and transparency.
What’s Been Announced
The IAC 2025 website highlights several key accessibility features:
Venue Accessibility: The International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney is a purpose-built accessible venue, offering step-free access, quiet rooms, faith spaces, and all-gender facilities.
Registration & Support: Attendees can nominate individual accessibility requirements during registration, with personalized responses and complimentary passes for support persons and registered assistance animals.
Exhibitor Accessibility: Booth designs are reviewed for accessibility, and exhibitors are encouraged to create inclusive spaces.
Communication Access: Major plenary sessions will feature live AI-enabled captioning and translation, supporting attendees with hearing or language needs.
What’s happening behind the scenes
The internal Accessibility Statement, led by Dwayne Fernandes of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance (ASDA), outlines a broader vision and additional initiatives:
Timely communication: timely communication and accessibility was not performed prior to the conference which concerned for the Disability community on what standard available features would be provided. Communication on accessibility is accessibility.
Leadership and accountability: Appointment of the first IAC Accessibility Lead and a commitment to embed accessibility checkpoints across all event planning.
Accessibility sponsors: a Call for Accessibility sponsors to support bespoke accessibility needs of international presenters called to speak was not put out.
Travel and accommodation: Partnerships with travel partner and hotel partners to support accessible travel and accommodations, including mobility assistance and clear information on accessible features.
Education and culture: A focus on educating all stakeholders about the Social Model of Disability, with webinars and resources for presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors.
Presentation and digital access: Plans for captioning, Auslan interpreters, hearing loops, and accessible materials in multiple formats for all presentations and sessions.
Exhibition and infrastructure: Guidance for exhibitors to exceed minimum accessibility standards, with reporting on accessibility achievements and continuous improvement of booth design processes.
City and local accessibility: Collaboration with local and state governments to provide information on accessible transport, attractions, and venues across Sydney.
Digital compliance: Ongoing testing and improvement of event websites for WCAG 2.2 accessibility compliance.
Feedback and growth: An open invitation for community feedback, with a philosophy of “progress over perfection” and a commitment to update the accessibility plan as new milestones are reached.
Bridging the gap
While the website showcases important foundational steps, the internal Accessibility Statement demonstrates that IAC Sydney 2025 is aiming even higher. Some of these ambitious goals such as comprehensive digital accessibility, detailed reporting, and city-wide partnerships, are still in progress and may not be fully visible to the public yet.
ASDA and the IAC team are committed to transparency and continuous improvement. By sharing both what’s already in place and what’s still being developed, they invite the global space community to join in making IAC Sydney 2025 a model for accessibility, innovation, and inclusion.
ASDA National Committee members reflect on IAC
“It goes without saying that the international nature of IAC delivered representation from all areas of the globe including major space players, but also and excitingly, those from emerging space nations. Experiencing this in person, interacting with space experts and enthusiasts from all over in a concentrated location was a great privilege. In my short time with ASDA I’ve been developing an IDEA lens, making me more conscious of witnessing this in action. On reflection of IAC Sydney, I’d say there were decent efforts and outcomes on accessibility and inclusion, which I know is due in a large part to the tireless efforts of ASDA, National Committee member Dwayne Fernandes, and AstroAccess. I’ve also realised, that without this lens, I actually would have assumed that services such as voice to text and sign language interpreters as standard offering for such events without pause to think of these as being an anomaly or hard fought for. The chance to connect with others championing IDEA in the space sector, along with hearing their initiatives and efforts towards a more diverse sector was inspirational and humbling. I left feeling energised and positive for the current state and future growth of IDEA in this community.” Jessica Bayndrian, Nova Systems.
“IAC2025 was an incredible experience. Huge kudos to the Organising Committee for engaging with Dwayne. The closed captions were particularly successful. They enabled engagement of the full content, and actually meant that presentations could be discursive and link in with other presentations in the same session - people were less restricted to following their slides to ensure that the audience could follow the proceedings.” Dr Sheila Gough Kenyon, Starbound Solutions.
“Even though I was only able to spend a day there, watching all of the inspiring social media posts and photos come through, I was so proud to be a part of ASDA’s contribution to IAC. So many attendees commented on the on-screen AI captions, brilliant for people with auditory or processing needs, and for navigating a chorus of global accents. Co-authoring an oral and poster presentation with fellow ASDA Ambassadors to share our progress was a definite highlight.” Jacqui Tyack, The Write Space.
Disability inclusion wins
Zach Damon, AstroAccess, performed a compelling pitch to the Lockheed Martin on how to make their spacecrafts accessible.“…because you made me think differently”
At Yuri’s Night, Mehmet Burak Yılmaz returned to greet Sheila Xu using ASL—after learning it from a single encounter.
This moment highlighted how situational accessibility can shift advantage: in a loud party, sign language users communicated more effectively than hearing attendees.
It demonstrated how accessibility fosters empathy, learning, and connection.
The Astro Bingo game, created by Dwayne as part of Minds at Play, encouraged attendees to interact with astronauts in a fun, inclusive way.
Rules: Selfies with astronauts between opening and closing ceremonies.
Outcome: Dwayne met 7 astronauts in one day, showcasing how accessibility enables full participation and joy. Played by dozens of delegates at the IAC
Together, we can ensure that space is truly for everyone, on Earth and beyond.
The ASDA National Committee would like to thank the Space Industry Association of Australia for their support in the Accessibility Statement, and the following organisations for their support at IAC, placing tent cards and stickers on their booths to ensure the ASDA message was seen and heard: Nova Systems, Starbound Solutions and Queensland Government, Lockheed Martin, iLaUNCH Trailblazer and New South Wales Government.
ASDA would also like to thank AstroAccess, Minerva Medical Group and Inclusion & Disability Expert Advisors Services for their support to deaf astronaut candidate Sheila Xu during IAC.
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