Speech Accessibility Project Recruits Stroke Survivors

Author: Beckman Institute for Advanced Science
Published: 2 Feb 2024 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Announcement

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information announces that the Speech Accessibility Project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign began recruiting adults in the United States and Puerto Rico who have had a stroke in early 2024, joining people with Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and ALS. Funded by Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft, the project collects recordings of speech affected by disability to train voice recognition systems that currently struggle with impaired speech. It partnered with Lingraphica, whose research mentors screen volunteers' speech and help them understand and give consent. The project matters to stroke survivors living with aphasia or other speech changes, and to their families, because accessible voice technology could make smart devices, work tasks and daily routines easier while reducing frustration and caregiver burden.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Speech, language and thinking can all be affected after a stroke.
• 2 - A Lingraphica researcher called the project ambitious and necessary.
• 3 - Lingraphica mentors screen speech and guide participants through consent.
• 4 - Researchers say the project could also improve quality of life for family members of stroke survivors.

Topic Definition

Aphasia

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control language, most often after a stroke, which affects a person's ability to speak, understand, read or write while leaving intelligence intact. It can range from occasional trouble finding words to severe difficulty communicating, and speech-language therapy, communication apps and support from family can help people improve and adapt.

Overview

Funded by Big Tech companies Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aims to train voice recognition technologies to understand people with diverse speech patterns and disabilities. The project is also recruiting adults with Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The Speech Accessibility Project is now also recruiting people in Canada with Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Down syndrome and people who have had a stroke.

"A stroke can cause big changes, including changes to your ability to speak," said Mark Hasegawa-Johnson, the project's leader and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois. "Our goal is to teach AI to understand you the way you speak right now, so that you can use AI to help you on the job or in activities of daily life. The Speech Accessibility Project is about empowerment; the potential for empowerment of people post-stroke is huge and wonderful."

The project has partnered with Lingraphica's research team to recruit people who have had a stroke. Mentors will connect with those who want to participate, screen their speech, and help them understand and consent to participate.

Shawnise Carter, Lingraphica's senior research manager and a speech language pathologist, said she's thrilled to join the project and called it "ambitious and necessary."

"It is essential for individuals with communication impairments to have access to technology in a way that can suit their needs," Carter said. "The hope is that it will allow people who have had a stroke to access smart devices and smart technology while decreasing frustration resulting from voice recognition technology not recognizing impaired speech."

Such technology doesn't currently account for people with speech impairments, she said.

"Creating a database that considers this is a huge contribution to the field of communication sciences and disorders and more research of this nature should continue," she said.

Clarion Mendes, a clinical assistant professor of speech and hearing science at Illinois and a speech language pathologist, added that the Speech Accessibility Project could also improve quality of life for family members and loved ones of people who have had a stroke.

"Communication difficulties associated with a cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as stroke, are diverse in both their severity and how they impact individuals and their families. Speech, language, and cognitive processes may be affected," Mendes said. "Including stroke survivors with aphasia and their caregivers in the Speech Accessibility Project is an exciting new chapter. There's outstanding potential for increasing quality of life for stroke survivors and decreasing caregiver burden."

Those interested in participating can sign up online.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is the difference between aphasia and dysarthria?

Aphasia affects language itself, such as finding or understanding words, while dysarthria is weakness or poor control of the speech muscles that makes speech hard to understand.

How common is aphasia after a stroke?

Aphasia is common after stroke, affecting a substantial share of survivors, particularly when the stroke involves the left side of the brain.

Can speech improve years after a stroke?

Many people continue to make gains with therapy and practice well beyond the first months, though progress is often fastest early in recovery.

What is Lingraphica?

Lingraphica is a US company that makes communication devices and apps for people with aphasia and other speech and language disorders.

Can voice assistants be used after a stroke?

Some people use them successfully, while others find recognition unreliable. Settings, slower speech and short commands can help, and projects like this aim to improve accuracy.

Who pays for speech therapy after a stroke?

Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurers cover speech-language therapy when it is medically necessary, though limits and copays vary.

How can families communicate better with someone who has aphasia?

Speak slowly in short sentences, allow extra time, use gestures, pictures or writing, reduce background noise and avoid finishing sentences for the person.

Are there other ways to take part in stroke research?

Stroke centers, universities and ClinicalTrials.gov list studies on recovery, therapy and technology that may be looking for volunteers.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Stroke is a leading cause of speech and language problems in adults, and the effects vary widely, from slurred speech to difficulty finding or understanding words. Voice assistants that cannot follow this kind of speech shut out many people who would benefit most from hands-free help, especially those who also have weakness on one side of the body. By recording stroke survivors with a range of speech patterns, the project aims to make recognition work for people as they speak now, not as they spoke before. Survivors interested in taking part, and those who simply want help with communication, can talk with a speech-language pathologist about therapy, apps and devices that suit their needs.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and published on 2 Feb 2024. Last updated on 4 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.