Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC)

Optimising the lives of people with Aphasia

Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments

This project aims to co-design a software pack that will make it easier for people with aphasia to use the internet.

Why develop a software pack?

The internet is used to access health care, support, and information.

Using the Internet requires language — reading, writing, and understanding. This can be difficult for people with aphasia.

The research team aim to improve access to websites for people with aphasia. From L-R: Ryan Deslandes, Phill Jamieson (person with aphasia), Jenny Lee, Sarah Wallace and Kim Barron (person with aphasia).

Our progress

We will work in partnership with people with lived experience of aphasia to design the software pack.

We are looking for people with aphasia, family members, and health professionals to join our focus groups.

Are you interested? Contact digitaldivide@uq.edu.au.

Expected outcomes

We will co-design a software pack:

A Communication Accessibility Browser Extension that will make websites aphasia-friendly.
Training materials to support people with aphasia and health professionals to use the software.
Guidelines for designing communication accessible websites.

The software pack will also help family members and carers and health professionals working with people with aphasia to provide support for using the internet.

How to be involved

Participate in a focus group. We are inviting people with aphasia, their families and friends, and health professionals to talk to us about using the internet with aphasia.
Join our co-design team. We are inviting people with aphasia, their families and friends, and health professionals to work with us to co-design Software Pack

You can participate in-person at The University of Queensland or online using Zoom.

If you would like to participate in this research project, please fill out our form.

Complete form

Contact

Contact Jennifer Lee to learn more.

Email digitaldivide@uq.edu.au Call (07) 3365 7595

Media and awards

Award: Dr Sarah Wallace is awarded a grant to fund the Bridging the Digital Divide project.

Video: Dr Sarah Wallace talks about working in partnership with people with aphasia in the Bridging the Digital Divide project

Partner organisations

We are grateful for the support of our partner organisations, Centre for Accessibility Australia, National Disability Insurance Agency, Services Australia, Australian Disability Network, Stroke Foundation, and the Australian Aphasia Association.