Luisa Crawford
Nov 27, 2025 02:19
ElevenLabs partners with Stroke Onward to provide voice cloning technology to stroke survivors, aiding in communication recovery and emotional healing on World Stroke Day.
Marking World Stroke Day, ElevenLabs has announced a significant partnership with Stroke Onward, aiming to leverage voice cloning technology to assist stroke survivors worldwide. This collaboration seeks to address the communication challenges faced by millions who experience strokes annually, according to ElevenLabs.
Addressing Communication Barriers
Each year, over 12 million people globally suffer from strokes, with many experiencing prolonged difficulties in speech. The partnership between ElevenLabs and Stroke Onward is designed to provide these individuals with access to advanced voice cloning and text-to-speech technologies. These tools are intended to help restore a critical aspect of their identity by enabling them to communicate more naturally with loved ones and the broader community.
Through the ElevenLabs Impact Program, stroke survivors can apply to receive free access to these technologies, fostering a sense of normalcy and self-expression. This initiative is particularly beneficial for those with dysarthria and other motor-speech impairments, as it allows them to create a digital voice that authentically represents them.
Building a Supportive Community
Complementing the technological advancements, Stroke Onward has launched the Stroke Onward Community Circle (SOCC), a free online platform for survivors, caregivers, and professionals. This community focuses on the emotional and identity challenges of stroke recovery, offering live events and curated tools to support emotional healing.
SOCC provides a unique space that goes beyond physical rehabilitation, addressing the often-overlooked emotional and identity aspects of recovery. By integrating ElevenLabs’ voice technology, the community aims to empower its members to reclaim their voices as part of their recovery journey.
Dr. Stephen Vance, a stroke survivor and psychiatrist, highlighted the importance of this initiative by sharing his personal journey of identity rediscovery through a performance in Menlo Park. Similarly, Laure Wong, living with locked-in syndrome, showcased her experience using an ElevenLabs Professional Voice Clone during her monologue.
Shared Vision for Empowerment
The collaboration between ElevenLabs and Stroke Onward underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that technology acts as an enabler rather than a barrier to human connection. This partnership not only facilitates verbal communication but also aids in the broader goal of rebuilding identity and purpose for stroke survivors.
The initiative serves as a reminder that stroke recovery encompasses more than just physical healing. By integrating advanced voice technologies into the recovery process, ElevenLabs and Stroke Onward are making significant strides in helping stroke survivors regain their voices and their sense of self.
For more information about the partnership and application details, visit the official ElevenLabs website at ElevenLabs.
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