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.

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.
Contact
Contact Jennifer Lee to learn more.
Media and awards
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.
Funding and acknowledgements
This project is funded by :
- 2022 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award
- The 2021 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Consumer-Led Research Opportunity.
(Grant Number MRF2019367)
Research team
Chief investigators
- Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
- Dr Peter Worthy
- Professor David Copland
- Mr Phill Jamieson (research partner with aphasia)
- Mrs Kim Barron (research partner with aphasia)
- Professor Leanne Togher
- Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
- Dr Ciara Shiggins
- Associate Professor Annie Hill
- Professor Janet Wiles
- Professor Alex Haslam
- Dr Sonia Brownsett
Associate investigators
- Dr Jennifer Lee
- Mr Ryan Deslandes
- Ms Bridget Burton
- Professor Deborah Hersh
- Dr Lisa Anemaat
- Dr Scott Hollier
- Dr Megan Isaacs
- Dr Bec Jenkinson



