Co-designing the ConnectUp online platform to facilitate social connection, physical health and mental wellbeing in people with disabilities and carers

Introduction A mobile application and online platform ConnectUp supports people with disabilities (PwD) and carers to socially connect for physical activity. The platform will be optimised, implemented and evaluated between 2025 and 2027 aiming to integrate social connection, physical activity, and accessibility within a single platform. The primary aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of PwD and carers on the user experience and usefulness of the platform, and ideas for optimising and operationalising additional features. The secondary aim was to explore co-designers’ experience of participating in the co-design workshops.Methods Twelve workshops were held with twelve participants developing additional features and improvements to the platform through participatory design activities. At the time of the workshops, participants tested an early prototype of ConnectUp that included basic features such as profile creation, user search, and matching with nearby users for shared physical activity. Co-designers completed a workshop experience survey after each workshop. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Overall, co-designers wanted ConnectUp to be broadly usable and a safe, inclusive community for all PwD and carers, with trustworthy and relevant accessibility information. The workshop feedback emphasised the importance of transparency, learning, working collaboratively, and flexibility in the co-design process.Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to the development of future online platforms for PwD and carers to increase usability and inclusion for diverse end-users, and to inform future co-design projects with PwD and carers for an improved experience of co-design.