Lexington Program Helps Local Businesses Better Serve People With Aphasia

Lexington Program Helps Make Everyday Communication Easier for People With Aphasia

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A University of Kentucky outreach program is helping make everyday experiences in Lexington more accessible for people living with aphasia, a condition that can make speaking and communicating difficult.

The University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences is working with local businesses and organizations to create more communication-friendly spaces. Students involved in the effort work alongside people with aphasia to educate employees and help reduce communication barriers.

For someone with aphasia, an everyday activity such as visiting a coffee shop, restaurant or retail store can bring additional anxiety. Communicating an order, asking a question or responding to an employee may take more time and patience than it does for other customers.

The Lexington outreach program focuses on helping businesses understand those challenges and learn ways to make their spaces more welcoming. Simple changes in how employees communicate can help people with aphasia feel more comfortable participating in everyday community activities.

The project also gives University of Kentucky students an opportunity to take what they are learning beyond the classroom. By working directly with community members and businesses, students can see how communication challenges affect people in real-world situations.

The effort highlights an aspect of accessibility that can sometimes be overlooked. Accessibility is not only about whether someone can physically enter a building. For people with communication difficulties, being given the opportunity and time to express themselves can also make a major difference.

By bringing students, community members and Lexington businesses together, the program is helping raise awareness about aphasia while encouraging more inclusive everyday interactions.

The University of Kentucky published information about the outreach effort on Aug. 11, 2026.