This month, Dr Abi Roper has been helping to bring conversations about aphasia into new and very public spaces - from the Scottish Parliament to an international podcast audience.

Aphasia, a language condition often caused by stroke or brain injury, affects how people communicate and participate in everyday life. In a significant milestone, aphasia was recently debated in the Scottish Parliament for the first time. The discussion recognised the impact of aphasia on people and families across Scotland, and called for greater awareness, better access to services, and long-term support. For Abi, this moment reflects years of advocacy by people with aphasia, clinicians, and researchers working to make the condition more visible - and more seriously taken - in public life.

Alongside this policy-level recognition, Abi also shared her work and reflections on the On the Tip of My Tongue podcast, where she spoke with Jonathan Hirons and Rob Edwards about the role of digital technology and AI in aphasia support. Drawing on her experience as both a speech and language therapist and researcher at City St George’s, University of London, Abi highlighted the potential of AI-based tools to support communication, while being clear about their limitations. She emphasised that technology should complement, not replace, human care, and that people with aphasia must be involved in shaping how these tools are designed and used.

Across research, practice, and public engagement, Abi’s work is grounded in close collaboration with people living with aphasia. Whether influencing national conversations or speaking candidly about emerging technologies, her focus remains the same: supporting meaningful communication, dignity, and inclusion.

Read more about this here: https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2026/january/aphasia-scottish-parliament