Available to book
Sheila Xu
Disability Awareness
Diversity and Inclusion
Innovation
Transform space accessibility with Sheila Xu, speaker and deaf astronaut-in-training. Sheila works with organizations to advance disability inclusion in space exploration and STEM, delivering pioneering insights for NPR, MIT, Wharton, and the Library of Congress.
AAPI Heritage
Deaf
International Day of Disability
International Women's Day
Women's History Month
Pilot
STEM
NASA
Astronaut
Sheila Xu is the Deputy Director of Development for AstroAccess, a non-profit focused on advancing disability inclusion in the space sector. An oral and signing Deaf woman, Sheila aspires to become a deaf astronaut, driven by her belief that human space exploration should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Her career encompasses scientific research, policy, and business, strongly emphasising accessibility in STEM. Sheila's work centres on multimodal communication for human space exploration missions, aiming to develop alternative communication methods to traditional radio systems. She is committed to ensuring that all individuals can participate in space missions.
Sheila's journey towards becoming an astronaut includes commercial analogue astronaut training and participation in zero-gravity parabolic flights, where she conducts experiments with her AstroAccess team. In 2021, she made history as the first deaf Asian female pilot after completing her training through a partnership between Able Flight and Purdue University. Her call sign, “Cool,” was earned after she successfully managed an emergency plane landing. In November 2022, Sheila became one of the first deaf individuals to join Arizona's commercial analogue astronaut training programme. This experience was followed by her involvement in a parabolic zero-gravity flight in December 2022, part of AstroAccess’ initiative to showcase the potential of deaf astronauts.
As a keynote speaker, Sheila advocates for including and recognising the leadership capabilities of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and those with disabilities. She addresses topics related to AstroAccess and the broader implications of human space exploration, emphasising that space should be accessible to all. Sheila argues that prioritising accessibility in the space sector can lead to significant technological and societal advancements. She encourages leaders across various industries to consider how lessons from space can foster a culture of innovation and inclusion, ensuring that future developments benefit everyone. Sheila has shared her insights with notable platforms and institutions, including NPR, MIT, Wharton, Comcast, and the Library of Congress. In May 2024, she graduated with concurrent Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Book Sheila Xu to inspire your team with her groundbreaking insights on accessibility and innovation. As a trailblazing deaf astronaut aspirant, she champions inclusion in STEM and space exploration. Her unique perspective will motivate your organisation to embrace diversity, driving success and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive.
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Email sheila.xu@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Sheila's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Sheila Xu draws on her first-hand experience as a deaf astronaut candidate and analogue astronaut trainee to ground her keynotes, using her own participation in zero-gravity parabolic flights and emergency pilot training as concrete reference points to illustrate the case for disability inclusion in space and STEM.
Sheila Xu speaks on disability inclusion in STEM and the space sector, multimodal communication for human space exploration, and the leadership capabilities of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. She holds concurrent MPP and MBA degrees from Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 2021 became the first deaf Asian female pilot following training through a partnership between Able Flight and Purdue University.
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