Making Dysphagia Easier to Swallow: How to Launch a Support Group
By Jan Pryor, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Sonia Blue, MA, MFT
Wednesday, September 21 at 4pm Pacific
TAD Talk Description:
Support groups are a meaningful way to bring together a group of people with similar issues to share experiences, hope, and community. While not everyone wants or needs support beyond that offered by family, friends, and their medical team, some may find it helpful to turn to others outside of their immediate circle.
A dysphagia support group can help those impacted by swallowing disorders cope better and feel less isolated by making connections with others facing similar challenges. While support groups shouldn’t replace standard medical care, they can serve as a valuable additional resource.
This TAD Talk, presented by leaders of the NFOSD Virtual Dysphagia Support Group Program, will discuss the logistics of establishing a support group and the benefits of joining a support group community from the patient perspective.
This presentation is geared towards healthcare professionals interested in learning more about support groups and towards people impacted by swallowing disorders. FREE to join!
Meet the Presenters:
Jan Pryor, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Jan Pryor, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is a Speech Pathologist with over 30 years of clinical experience across the medical setting spectrum, from ICU to skilled nursing facilities.
Involved in continuing education for most of her career, she has traveled throughout the United States and Europe training speech pathologists and physicians in dysphagia evaluation and treatment.
Jan earned her B.A. and M.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO in 1982 and 1984 respectively, and in 2022, completed her PhD at the University of Washington. She became a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders in 2009.
Sonia Blue, MA, MFT
Sonia Blue, MA, MFT. As a result of a stroke and then surgical removal of a brain lesion in 2003, Sonia’s dysphagia left her tube-dependent for 6 ½ years. Traveling the country to pursue all available treatments to no avail, Sonia began working with Dr. Belafsky and Jan Pryor in 2005, with their help and her own efforts, her tube was removed and she began eating again in 2009.
Sonia Blue holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. As a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she has spent the last thirty-five years working as a psychotherapist in private practice.
CEUs: No ASHA CEUs are offered for this webinar.
Cost: FREE. This webinar has been made free to all registrants. We recognize the financial hardship that is impacting many people due to the pandemic. As a non-profit, we feel this too. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our Donation Page.
The NFOSD wants to thank Bracco Diagnostics for their unrestricted educational grant.
Sponsors:
