The NFOSD offers more than two dozen local support group chapters connecting people with dysphagia and their loved ones in communities across the country.
Support groups provide a welcoming space to share experiences, learn from others, exchange practical tips and resources, and build meaningful connections with people who understand the challenges of living with a swallowing disorder.
Below, you’ll find more information about our local chapters, including meeting locations, schedules, and contact details.
United States Dysphagia Support Groups
Dysphagia Awareness and Support Alliance
Shermetra D. Payton, MCD, CCC-SLP
Bambi Reynolds, MS, CCC-SLP
With support from Quamesha F. Hendricks, CCMA & Joan Freed, LMSW
info@speechandswallowrehab.com
(256) 642-6495
Alliance for Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation, LLC
103 Spenryn Drive, Madison, AL 35758
Meetings take place the 3rd Monday of Each Month
5:30-6:30 p.m. CT
Liza Blumenfeld MA CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Liza@endo-education.com
(858) 626-5059
Virtual via Zoom (email for link)
Meetings take place the 4th Wednesday of every month from 11:00-12:00pm (PST)
Shannon Crow, MS, CCC-SLP and Lily Schneiderman, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS
LADSGroupCA@gmail.com
Virtual via Zoom (email for link)
Meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00-7:00 pm (PST)
Follow on Instagram for any updates @ladysphagiasupportgroup
Lisa Evangelista, CScD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Jennifer Mount, jjmount@ucdavis.edu
(916) 734–1530
University of California, Davis Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery 2521 Stockton Blvd 7th Floor Conference Room, Sacramento, CA 95817
Please email Jennifer for meeting details.
Bay Area Swallowing Support
Theresa Yao, SLPD, CCC-SLP and Claire Heitlinger, M.S., CCC-SLP
Virtual via Zoom
Meeting dates/time: 2nd Thursday of every other month from 5:00-6:00pm (PST)
Register by Email: bayareaswallow@gmail.com
Register on Website: www.dysfogia.com/bass
Katia Bruno, MEd, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, Shannon Heinrich, MS, CCC-SLP, Beth DalSanto, MSP, CCC-SLP
brunoekaterina@yahoo.com
Virtual via Zoom (email for link)
Meetings On Hold; Email to Request Information
Katja Schultz, MS, CCC-SLP
katja.schultz@nuvancehealth.org
860-364-4065
Sharon Hospital
Meets on the last Thursday of every month from 1:00-2:00
Email for details
Maggie Donaker, MS, CCC-SLP & Kristin Winter, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
info@dysphagiadigest.com
Virtual Meetings (email for schedule/details)
Website: https://www.dysphagiadigest.com
Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/DysphagiaDigest/
Lauren De Meno M.S. CCC-SLP
Email: Lauren.demeno@brooksrehab.org
Virtual Meetings via Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: Dysphagia
Passcode: Swallow
Meets 4th Thursday of each month
Anna Swindle, CCC-SLP, CBIS and Andrea Pollock, CCC-SLP
Email: anna.swindle@emoryhealthcare.org
Next Meeting: 11/6/25 (email for future dates)
6325 Hospital Parkway, Classroom C (on the lower level)
Dr. Bonnie Martin-Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Katelyn Stephan, MD
Dick Lami, HNC Survivor
Email: scsc@northwestern.edu
Phone: (312) 772-3920
Next Meeting: April 25, 2024 at 6:30pm (in person)
2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
Melanie Somogie, MA, CCC-SLP
Meeting Location: Virtual via Zoom (Open to anyone in the Greater Kansas City Area of Missouri or Kansas)
Meeting Dates: The 3rd Thursday of each month
Register to receive a Zoom link via email: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldu2uqzsrHdIelCY5af4qIu945ZvVutTg#/registration
Time: 6:00-7:15pm CST
Questions? Email MSomogie@kumc.edu
Melanie Somogie, MA, CCC-SLP
Meeting Location: Virtual via Zoom (Open to anyone in the Greater Kansas City Area of Missouri or Kansas)
Meeting Dates: The 3rd Thursday of each month
Register to receive a Zoom link via email: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldu2uqzsrHdIelCY5af4qIu945ZvVutTg#/registration
Time: 6:00-7:15pm CST
Questions? Email MSomogie@kumc.edu
Kelly Hansen, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
kehansen@bu.edu
Meetings held virtually on last Wednesday of month (no meetings in August or December)
Open to residents of MA or NH
Register: Click Here
Allison Remley, MS, CCC-SLP
slp@slpofmo.com
Meetings are currently on hold, please email if interested.
Ainsley Martin, MS, CCC-SLP
ainsley.s.martin@gmail.com
Virtual Meetings
Meetings are held once every two months for a total of six meetings per year. Form on website (see below) to RSVP for meeting.
Website: https://www.stateofmindspeechandswallowing.com/ny-dysphagia-support
Nicole Wiksten, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
The Ohio State University
614-292-9347
Meets virtually at 4:30pm on the last Tuesday of each month. Email for link.
Samantha Shune, PhD, CCC-SLP
sshune@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-7494
This group is currently on hold. Please email if interested in participating.
Location: Nashville, TN Dysphagia Support Group
Support Group Leaders: Hannah Malamud, MS, CCC-SLP and Cara Donohue, PhD, CCC-SLP
Meeting Location: Vanderbilt Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute
1215 21st Ave S., Suite 9211
Nashville, TN 37232
Meeting Date: Second Thursday of Every Month
Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m. CT
Contact: Hannah.malamud@vumc.org
Meaghan Arnold, MS, CCC-SLP
meaghan@ssnrtx.com
903-871-5712
1101 E Southeast Loop 323, Suite 175
Tyler, TX 75701
First Tuesday of every month from 4pm-5 pm
Email for meeting details.
Jan Pryor, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S and Angelina Fitzgerald, MS, CCC-SLP
jpryor2@u.washington.edu
619-339-5491
Virtual Meetings
Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. Please email or call to attend and be put on the mailing list.
Katie Wengel, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
kathleen.wengel@va.gov
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church
209 South Street Waunakee, WI 53597
Note: Please note that this group is for Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
Email for dates
International Dysphagia Support Groups
Zuleikha Wadhwaniya, MS SLP (C), Reg. CASLPO & Ashwini Namasivyam-McDonald, PhD, SLP(C), Reg. CASLPO
zuleikha.wadhwaniya@uhn.ca
Virtual via Zoom
Register online:
Website: https://agingswallowlab.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/my-resources/support-group/
Faiza Badar, Rehabilitation Department Manager
Shifa International Hospital
Email: faiza.badar@shifa.com.pk
Phone: 051-846 4823
Don’t see a support group in your area? Consider joining our monthly virtual meetings, moderated by a board-certified swallowing specialist and a licensed therapist.
Adult Online Swallowing Support Group
Virtual Caregiver Swallowing Support Group
Want to establish a local support group in your area?