National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders

12/05/2025

Survey Link: https://bit.ly/3Lm0ssH

We are partnering with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) to identify the top research priorities about communication and swallowing difficulties after critical illness.

We want to hear from people with lived experience, family members, carers, and health professionals who work in intensive care, rehabilitation, or related areas following admission to an adult intensive care unit.

Your views will help shape future research and ensure it focuses on the questions about communication and swallowing difficulties with critical illness. We want to hear about what matters most to you and those affected.

It only takes about 10 minutes to complete, and every response counts.

Who can take part?

People who have been critically unwell in an adult ICU and experienced communication or swallowing difficulty during or after their hospital admission
Family members, carers or supporters of people who have been critically unwell in an adult ICU and experienced communication or swallowing difficulty during or after their hospital admission

Health and social care professionals with experience with or providing care for critically unwell adults who experienced communication or swallowing difficulty during or after their hospital admission


Survey: Our survey is available in 10 different languages (English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian).

This project has been reviewed by the Ethics Secretariat at the University of Technology Sydney.

You can take part in the survey via this link: https://bit.ly/3Lm0ssH

12/05/2025

Join the December Canadian Dysphagia Support Group! 🇨🇦

The next free, virtual meeting is happening December 18! This is a safe and supportive space to connect with others navigating life with dysphagia, whether you’re a patient or caregiver.

🗓️ December 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM EST

💻 https://tinyurl.com/DyspagiasupportDec2025

12/04/2025

🍂 The THANC Foundation - - is hosting a special Holiday Recipes & Survivor Stories session where a panel of survivors of head and neck cancer will talk about the traditions, dishes and memories that carried them through treatment and recovery.

It will be a warm, uplifting program that blends storytelling, community and a little holiday joy.

You are invited to join: https://thanc.me/december2025

12/03/2025

📣 New NFOSD Webinar Announcement!

We’re excited to welcome back author and caregiver advocate, Diane Wolff, for a special session: "Transforming Your Kitchen Into a Dysphagia Kitchen!"

🗓 December 15th at 11am ET

⏰ 1 hour • Free to attend

🔗 Register: swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/transforming-your-kitchen/

Diane will share practical, real-world strategies for setting up a dysphagia-friendly kitchen—drawing from her brand-new cookbook, Cooking for Dysphagia and Other Swallowing Disorders.

Whether you're a caregiver, patient, SLP, or anyone supporting safe and enjoyable eating at home, this session offers tools you can use right away.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the leading voices in dysphagia-friendly cooking!

12/03/2025

ICYM This Incredible Presentation! 🎉

The recording from yesterday’s NFOSD webinar, “From Principles to Practice: Implementing Informed Consent for Texture-Modified Diets”, is now available to watch!

🎥 Catch the full webinar here: https://youtu.be/UsuX-dh5gg8

📄 Free downloadable handouts are included to support your clinical practice: https://www.dysphagiaoutreach.org/shop

🔖 Please note: ASHA CEUs are not available for the recording, but we can provide a certificate of participation upon request.

Whether you missed the live session or want to revisit the discussion, we hope this resource continues to support your work in evidence-based, patient-centered care. 💙

12/02/2025

🌎 This Giving Tuesday, your generosity can change someone’s life.

For the millions living with dysphagia, something as simple as eating or drinking safely is a daily challenge. At NFOSD, we provide critical education, patient support, advocacy, and hope to those who often feel unseen.

💛 Your donation helps fund:
✔ Free patient and caregiver support groups
✔ Life-changing education and resources
✔ Advocacy for better treatments and research
✔ Community for those who need it most

✨ Give today. Advance the treatment of swallowing disorders. Show support.

Donate now: https://nfosd.networkforgood.com/projects/84367-nfosd-donations

12/01/2025

📢 Reminder — Webinar Tomorrow!

Join us for a FREE 2-hour webinar:“From Principles to Practice: Implementing Informed Consent for Texture-Modified Diets” — earns .2 ASHA Ethics CEUs.

🗓️ Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM Eastern (12:00 PM Pacific)

✅ Cost: FREE — made possible by an educational grant from our educational sponsor. All donations will be shared between the NFOSD & the Dysphagia Outreach Project!

👉 Register now: swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/informed-consent-diet/

Please share with colleagues or clients who may benefit — we’d love to see you there!

11/26/2025

A Letter to Our Community From NFOSD Executive Director, Elizabeth Daly

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to acknowledge what this time of year can mean for those living with dysphagia. While many gather around tables filled with traditional foods, I know that for many in our community, this season brings unique physical, emotional, and social challenges. Please know that you are seen, supported, and not alone.

Even with these challenges, Thanksgiving offers a moment to reflect on gratitude—and at the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders, we have so much to be thankful for.

We are grateful for our incredible community—for your perseverance, resilience, and the strength you show each day. Your willingness to share your experiences, support one another, and advocate for better care fuels our mission and guides our work.

We are thankful for our dedicated board members and volunteers, whose time, expertise, and compassion make so much possible. Whether hosting support groups, providing education, contributing to advocacy, or helping behind the scenes, their commitment drives our impact.

We are also grateful for the experts and clinicians in the field of swallowing disorders—the SLPs, ENTs, researchers, healthcare providers, and industry partners who push for better treatments and improved quality of life. Their passion strengthens our community every day.

And on a personal note, I am grateful for the moments of connection this community brings—messages after webinars, stories shared in support groups, and quiet encouragement between people who truly understand each other. You remind me that even in difficult seasons, community can make things easier to carry.

As we reflect on the year behind us and look ahead with hope, please accept our heartfelt gratitude for being part of the NFOSD family. Your courage reminds us why this work matters so deeply.

Wishing you a peaceful and meaningful Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Daly
Executive Director, National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders

11/25/2025

11/25/2025

🧡 In Solidarity & Awareness

This Thanksgiving season, we honor those in our swallowing-disorder community who face the invisible challenge of not being able to eat or share a meal with loved ones.

Our co-founder, Dr. Peter Belafsky, fasts in solidarity—taking a voluntary step to reflect the very real experience of people living with dysphagia.

His fast serves as a reminder that for many the pain isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and social, too.

Let’s turn this moment into action:
• Share this post to spread awareness of swallowing disorders and how they affect quality of life.
• Reach out to someone you know who is living with a swallowing disorder and let them know you see them, you hear them, and you support them.
• Join us in recommitting to research, advocacy, and community-building to make every day a little more accessible for those who cannot eat in the usual way.

Because belonging is more than sharing a meal—it’s knowing you’re included, facing the challenge together.

https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/thanksgiving-is-a-tough-time-for-those-unable-to-eat/

11/24/2025

Global Survey on Swallowing Assessment and Intervention Practices

A doctoral student in the SLPD program at MGH Institute of Health Professions is conducting a research study to better understand global practice patterns in swallowing assessment and intervention. The study aims to explore how practices vary by practitioner type, geographic region, and barriers to service delivery. The findings may contribute to future advocacy efforts to improve access to swallowing services worldwide.

Practitioners involved in swallowing assessment and/or intervention in any country are invited to participate in an anonymous survey. No identifying or contact information will be collected. Recipients are encouraged to share the survey with colleagues who also work in this area.

The survey begins with brief questions regarding practice setting, professional background, education level, and demographics. Subsequent sections address the types of swallowing assessments and interventions utilized, with follow-up questions regarding specific measures or barriers to use. Most items are presented in checkbox format, with optional open-text responses.

An optional final section allows participants to provide additional comments about swallowing practice in their region.

The survey link:

https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=LC7K4NJFWTDELEYL