Co-designing digital tools to enhance speech and language therapy training in Ghana

Hudson, Lorraine, Amponsah, Clement, Ohenewa Bampoe, Josephine, Marshall, Julie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8860-2951, Owusu, Nana Akua Victoria, Hussein, Khalid, Linington, Jess, Banks Gross, Zoe, Stokes, Jane and McNaney, Roisin (2020) Co-designing digital tools to enhance speech and language therapy training in Ghana. In: 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 25 April 2020 - 30 April 2020, Honolulu , HI , USA.

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Abstract

Ghana has a population of over 27 million people, of which 1 in 15 may have a communication disability. The number of speech and language therapists (SLTs) available to support these people remains remarkably small, presenting a major workforce challenge. As an emerging profession, there remain significant challenges around educating the first generation of SLTs. Ghana, however, has a healthy digital infrastructure which can be taken advantage of. We describe a comprehensive study which aimed to co-design a set of locally appropriate digital tools to enhance SLT training in Ghana. We contribute insights into how digital tools could support social learning and the transition from student to independent practitioner and future clinical supervisor. We offer a set of design recommendations for creating an online Community of Practice to enhance continuing professional development.