Making Space Launches Ascend Aerospace to Boost Disabled Talent in Aerospace

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Making Space, a talent and learning platform focused on closing the disability employment gap, has launched Ascend Aerospace, a new track of its flagship Ascend Fellowship program. This initiative aims to prepare 100 Disabled professionals for careers in the aerospace and aviation industries, while also equipping hiring managers and recruiters to support this talent pool.

Applications for the first Ascend Aerospace cohort are now open, with the program set to begin in Colorado before expanding to California. The initiative is funded by Ability Central, with additional support from philanthropic sources.

The aerospace sector in Colorado is experiencing significant growth, with the workforce expanding by 14.4 percent between 2020 and 2025. This growth has led to the creation of over 61,000 jobs, which pay nearly twice the statewide average. However, the sector faces a workforce shortage, and Ascend Aerospace seeks to address this by providing Disabled professionals with accessible, industry-aligned training. The program also aims to bridge the gap for hiring managers and recruiters, who often struggle to support Disabled employees.

The Ascend Fellowship has already supported over 250 Disabled professionals, with a cohort of 100 Fellows completing the curriculum and 75 percent reaching employment outcomes. The program is projected to generate $111 million in lifetime earnings, with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 123-to-1.

Making Space operates on a network of over 50,000 Disabled people and has trained more than 200,000 employees at companies including Red Bull, Salesforce, and Netflix. The Ascend Aerospace program will provide Fellows with free, permanent access to Making Space, including accessible, job-aligned courses taught by Disabled professionals. Additionally, Fellows will have access to benefits navigation through Safe-to-Earn, an AI-powered tool that shows how earnings interact with SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and ABLE accounts. The program also offers direct employer access through open roles, mentorship, and interviews, as well as a national peer community of Disabled professionals.

The program is designed to provide lasting capability for employers, including a pre-qualified talent pipeline, Disabled-led manager and recruiter training, a hiring process review, retention and advancement pathways, and reporting on hiring confidence, self-identification, placement, and retention. Early access to Fellows ahead of open recruitment is also available to interested employers.