Tech Hub helps people with aphasia reclaim their independence
A UQ-led service improving access to technology for people with aphasia is continuing to provide life changing support, thanks to a generous donation from the Campbell family.
Aphasia is a devastating and common language and communication disability that can occur suddenly after a stroke or sometimes after a head injury.
Dr Sonia Brownsett from UQ’s Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC) said the Aphasia Tech Hub supports people with a communication disability to access technology required to meet their communication and life goals.
“According to the Stroke Foundation, someone in Australia has a stroke every 19 minutes and one-third of those who survive will have aphasia,” Dr Bownsett said.
“Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to express and understand spoken and written language and can cause depression, social isolation and family problems.
“Language and communication are a core part of everyday life and technology is becoming an essential tool for communication and everyday tasks.
“The Aphasia Tech Hub was developed to assist people with aphasia who may be unable to access technology, so they don’t miss out on vital connection and independence.
“The Campbell family support for the Aphasia Tech Hub will ensure the continuation of consultations and the expansion of the service to ensure that people with any type of aphasia, not just following a stroke, can also access the service.”
Simon and Christine Campbell have chosen to support the program in honour of their late daughter Jess Campbell, who led the development of the Aphasia Tech Hub and was a speech pathologist who specialised in aphasia rehabilitation.
The Aphasia Tech Hub is a free service for people with aphasia, their significant others and clinical and community services who work with people with aphasia.
It is available both online and in person delivered at the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (STARS), a Metro North Health hospital facility.
A team of speech pathologists, with expertise in supporting communication, and people with a lived experience of aphasia provide tailored consultations for individual communication abilities and goals.
Speech Pathologist Kori Ramajoo, from UQ’s Queensland Aphasia Research Centre said, the service has helped with self-led rehabilitation and increased independence.
“We provide advice on the types of technology that help people with aphasia, as well as demonstrations on how to use smart phones, tablets, PCs, therapy programs, apps and other technology,” Ms Ramajoo said.
“Often a person may have multiple communication goals, so we help to prioritise these and develop a plan to trial a few different technology solutions to find the most appropriate.
“We like to work with devices people already have and we have hardware and software people can borrow to try at home.
“We also develop aphasia friendly handouts to support the technology recommended and we can work with individuals to become comfortable with the tech suggestions over multiple sessions.”
Dr Brownsett said a key benefit for clients is the involvement of people with lived experience of aphasia who provide advice and recommendations on technology.
“As well as those in our team, we work closely with the aphasia community to ensure that our advice and support is relevant and useful to people with aphasia,” Dr Brownsett said.
“A great example is when we worked with Scott, a person with aphasia, who was part of our team who won the 2023 Amazon Web Services Queensland Hackathon ‘Hack for Purpose’.
Scott with his granddaughter Frankie in the stroke ward.
“Scott worked with the Amazon Web Services (AWS) team to develop an app that would support his communication needs.
“His role was crucial in helping the technology team understand aphasia, and the potential for technology to make a difference.”
Scott developed aphasia after suffering a stroke in 2020. Through the Aphasia Tech Hub, he is slowly learning to speak again and better communicate with his family and friends.
“The Aphasia Tech Hub has set me up with software that I use most days. It worked really well and the repetition and intensity helps a lot with aphasia,” Scott said.
"Being able to communicate with my family is a big deal. I have 3 grandchildren and I want to be able to help teach them how to talk as well. Being able to talk more with my wife, my children and grandchildren makes me happy.”
The winning team from the 2023 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Queensland Hackathon 'Hack for purpose' competition including Scott Harding, Aphasia Tech Hub team members Dr Sonia Brownsett, Professor David Copland and Kori Ramajoo and AWS software developers.
The winning team from the 2023 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Queensland Hackathon 'Hack for purpose' competition including Scott Harding, Aphasia Tech Hub team members Dr Sonia Brownsett, Professor David Copland and Kori Ramajoo and AWS software developers.
Scott said it was an honour to be involved in the 2023 Amazon Web Services Queensland Hackathon and contribute to the design of the winning app.
“I was so pleased to take the stage with the QARC team and highlight the work being done to treat aphasia,” Scott said.
“Words are vital to our being. To be cut off from this gift can be incredibly difficult. Finding a way back is so important.
“Our app helps communication with images when words are misplaced. I saw great potential to help others with literacy problems, injuries and even children with speech issues.”
Scott with his granddaughter Frankie in the stroke ward.
Scott with his granddaughter Frankie in the stroke ward.
Director of UQ's Queensland Aphasia Research Centre Professor David Copland said the additional support from the Campbell family will help contribute to developing novel, new services that will support industry communicators to ensure that their technology is communication-accessible and has the broadest reach possible.
“In collaboration with AWS, we have been able to develop new technology solutions, born from the needs of those with aphasia,” Professor Copland said.
“We’re currently looking for ways to develop new collaborations to ensure that we can provide sustainable services and software.
“We want to encourage industries to reach out to us, so that we can work with them to ensure that their tech solutions are communication accessible.”
QARC was established in partnership with Metro North Health as part of the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Services Education and Research Alliance, thanks to a $1 million gift from the Bowness Family Foundation and $500,000 from an anonymous donor.
The Aphasia Tech Hub
Built with Shorthand