NFOSD-Affiliated Dysphagia Support Groups in the United States
{More Details Listed Below}
Support groups bring together people facing similar issues. Members of support groups often share experiences and advice. It can be helpful getting to talk with other people who are in the same boat. While not everyone wants or needs support beyond that offered by family, friends, and their medical team, you may find it helpful to turn to others outside your immediate circle. A dysphagia support group can help you cope better and feel less isolated as you make connections with others facing similar challenges. A support group shouldn’t replace your standard medical care, but it can provide hope and be a valuable additional resource.
Why Join a Support Group?
Members of our dysphagia support groups report:
- Feeling less lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed, or judged
- Gaining a sense of empowerment and control
- Being able to talk openly and honestly about one’s feelings
- Getting practical advice or information about treatment and coping options
- Comparing notes about resources, such as doctors and alternative options
Interested in starting a local support group chapter?
We have a Support Group Coordinator who can help you get started!
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 family therapist.
Adult Online Swallowing Support Group
Pediatric Online Swallowing Support Group
Please note that many in-person groups are on hold due to the pandemic. Some groups are offering a virtual option. We recommend reaching out to the moderator for more details.
UNITED STATES:
Arizona – Virtual
Malathy Venkatesh, PhD, CCC-SLP & Kathryn Hammond, MS, CCC -SLP
SSGArizona@yahoo.com
Virtual via Zoom (email for link)
First Thursday of every month from 6:00pm -7:00 pm AZ Time
California- La Jolla
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)
California- Los Angeles
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
California- Sacramento
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.
California- San Francisco
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 4:00-5:00pm (PST) starting January 12th, 2023.
Register by Email: bayareaswallow@gmail.com
Register on Website: www.dysfogia.com/bass
Colorado- Denver
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)
Dates for 2023: 2/17, 5/12, 9/8, 11/10
Connecticut – Sharon
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
Florida – (Virtual, Open to any Florida residents)
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/
Illinois- Chicago
Abigail Nellis, MS, CCC-SLP
abigail.day@northwestern.edu
Virtual Meetings (email for date/time)
Open to anyone in the United States
Missouri – Cape Girardeau
Allison Remley, MS, CCC-SLP
aremley@sehealth.org
Meetings are currently on hold, please email if interested.
New Jersey – Princeton
Susan M. Pattay, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
susan.pattay@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Princeton Medical Center in the Edward and Marie Matthews Center for Care- Conference Room
One Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Meetings will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 12:00-3:30 pm EST
Registration preferred. Walk-ins welcome. Email to register
New York- Central
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
Website: https://www.stateofmindspeechandswallowing.com/ny-dysphagia-support
Ohio – Columbus
Nicole Wiksten, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
The Ohio State University
614-292-9347
Email with interest – group is in process of forming
Oregon – Eugene
Samantha Shune, PhD, CCC-SLP
sshune@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-7494
This group is currently on hold. Please email if interested in participating.
Pennsylvania
Terlenda Lassiter, MA, CCC-SLP
adnelret@aol.com
Virtual Meetings (email for link)
Last Friday of every month at 7:30 -9:00pm EST
Tennessee – Nashville
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: Last Tuesday of the Month
Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m. CT
Contact: Hannah.malamud@vumc.org
Texas – Tyler
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.
Washington – Seattle
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.
Website: http://www.uwmedicine.org/Pages/default.aspx
Wisconsin – Madison
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
Dates: 4:30-6:30pm on 9/26/22, 10/24/22, 11/21/22, 12/19/22, 1/30/23
CANADA
Zuleikha Wadhwaniya, MS SLP (C), Reg. CASLPO & Ashwini Namasivyam-McDonald, PhD, SLP(C), Reg. CASLPO
zuleikha.wadhwaniya@uhn.ca
Virtual via Zoom
Email for next meeting date and to join the mailing list
Website: http://www.uwmedicine.org/Pages/default.aspx
PAKISTAN – Islamabad
Faiza Badar, Rehabilitation Department Manager
Initial Meeting: January 2, 2023
Shifa International Hospital
Email: faiza.badar@shifa.com.pk
Phone: 051-846 4823