Communicatively accessible public transport for people with aphasia: A pilot study

Background: There has been little research as to how society accommodates the communicative needs of people with aphasia. The accessibility of public transport becomes important post stroke and good communication skills are vital for successful travel. Aims: This pilot study aims to identify the communicative barriers and facilitators that exist when people with aphasia use public transport. Methods & Procedures: The qualitative study used in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews and observations with seven participants who presented with mild‐moderate aphasia. Interviews were conducted pre‐ and post‐journey. Observations were conducted throughout the journey chain, from planning the trip to arrival at destination. Outcomes & Results: The most significant barriers to a public transport journey were within the category of Public Transport Services and Systems, most notably during transactions requiring verbal expression and where time constraints were at a premium. The most common facilitators were in the categories of Products and Technology for Communication (e.g., written materials) and Support from Other People. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the majority of communicative barriers for commuters with aphasia occur in circumstances when verbal communication is mandatory, or when rapid information processing is required. Additionally, people with aphasia employ many communicative facilitators. These have enabled them to travel successfully and need to be promoted to new users of public transport systems. This study highlights the need to address communicative aspects of accessibility within public transport systems.