Ensuring future users played a critical role in designing an innovative, accessible, and evidence-based website about communication disability
Nichola Harris1, Ria Ferris21Speech Pathology Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia2AGOSCI Inc, National, National, Australia
Abstract
Through an Information Linkages and Capacity (ILC) building project grant Speech Pathology Australia and AGOSCI Inc developed the Communication Hub website to assist the diverse group of people with communication difficulties, their families and communication partners, and the wider community to understand the importance of communication in everyday life. The website outlines the impact of a range of communication disabilities on everyday life. It also provides reliable, unbiased information about communication that represents a variety of lived experiences and empowers people.
During this project the ILC grant team ensured the inclusion of lived experience advisors and contributors in all stages of website design and evaluation. The website protoype was evaluated to inform refinements ahead of launch.
The evaluation tools were informed by a rapid review of literature on website evaluation (Allison, et al. 2019) and evaluation parameters included content, usefulness, ease of navigation, accessibility, and appearance. Feedback was gained via a workshop, survey, and individual interviews from stakeholders including people with lived experience of communication disability. Interview documentation was translated into Easy English for accessibility and consent purposes. People with communication barriers nominated for in-person interviews to share feedback, while others utilised the online survey to submit written feedback.
The qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis, and findings synthesised to inform the final website design and content of the Communication Hub. Future users played a critical role in the design and content of the website. The evaluation process was essential to producing an accessible resource that represented the diversity of its audience.
Biography
Ria Ferris was the Communication Hub project manager during the evaluation and launch phase of the website project. Ria is also the AGOSCI Executive Officer. Ria has a background in speech pathology and the disability sector.
Nichola Harris is the Manager, Professional Practice at Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) and oversees the Professional Practice team at National Office. Nichola represents the Association on a range of reference groups and liaises with relevant stakeholders. Nichola led the Communication Hub ILC grant project team from inception and coordinated ongoing support from SPA. Nichola has over 30 years’ experience as a speech pathologist.