Episode #201: Disability Rights in Space

In this week's episode, we’ll cover what advocacy looks like in the fields of human rights, disability rights and space law - as well as, how these important topics intersect. We'll also discuss how we can work to make life both on and off this planet more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

My guest on the show, AJ Link, received his JD from The George Washington University Law School. His studies focused extensively on disability law, international human rights, and space law. AJ has been actively involved with disability advocacy in the Washington, D.C. area and nationally within the United States.

While at GW, he chaired the Diversity and Inclusion Assembly for the Student Association and the Student Life Committee. He also founded the Atypical Student Society, a student organization for neurodiverse and disabled law students, and served as its inaugural president. AJ was the president of the GW Space Law Society and co-chaired the Student Affinity Group Enterprise.

AJ was awarded the Michael Dillon Cooley Memorial Award by his graduating class for his compassion and humanity in serving his fellow students. He serves on several advisory boards that focus on disability advocacy and social justice. AJ is openly autistic. He was a 2020 Disability:IN NextGen Leader and was inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.

AJ is currently pursuing an LL.M in Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, while also chairing The Center for Air and Space Law Task Force on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Aerospace and a Senior Editor of the Journal of Space Law. He works as a research director for the Jus Ad Astra project and serves as co-president of the National Disabled Law Students Association, which he co-founded.