Dysphagia Awareness Month

More Than a Meal: Honoring the Strength Behind Every Swallow In recognition of Dysphagia Awareness Month by Kaitlyn Gill, SLP

Eating should be Fun. Effortless. Safe. But for many, especially children, it’s anything but.

When we think of eating, we think of joy—birthday cake, snack time, family dinners, ice cream outings. It fuels our bodies, stimulates our senses, and brings people together. But for individuals with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), especially in the pediatric world, eating can be stressful, scary, and full of uncertainty.

This month, we’re shining a light on those unique feeding journeys and the incredible kids, families, and therapists walking through them.

Swallowing: A Silent Strength

Swallowing is something most of us don’t even think about, it’s a natural reflex, just like breathing. For some children, the muscles used for swallowing aren’t strong or coordinated enough to work safely. For others, food may be overwhelming due to sensory challenges like textures, smells, or flavors. Mealtimes that should be fun become battles filled with frustration, worry, and fatigue for the child and their family.

But this isn’t just a pediatric story.

I first fell in love with treating swallowing impairments when I met a man with Parkinson’s disease. He and his wife had shared countless meals over the years until swallowing became a daily battle filled with stress and fear. Eating, something so intimate and familiar, had turned into something painful and distant.

Our therapy team worked closely with them, creating strategies and making accommodations to help him eat safely and comfortably again. One day, I watched them sit together his wife gently feeding him applesauce, following the plan we’d put in place. They laughed, talked about their children, and simply enjoyed the moment. It was in that quiet, beautiful scene that I realized something powerful: his ability to swallow wasn’t the only thing being restored, so was his connection with his wife.

That was my why.That moment is what still fuels my passion today, especially when working with children and their families.

Pediatric Feeding is a Journey

Every child’s experience with feeding is different and each one is valid. Some children eat through a G-tube while their parents lovingly prepare meals for their “tubey.” Others may only tolerate small tastes or certain textures. Some children thrive with intensive therapy and specialized tools, while others take things slow, exploring foods step by step with the help of playful games, sensory integration, and lots of encouragement.

We see parents who come to every session armed with hope, therapists who celebrate the tiniest wins, and children who show immense bravery as they take on every spoonful, sip, or smell. It takes work, patience, and an unshakeable belief in progress.

It’s More Than Just Eating

Feeding impacts a child’s development, health, routine, and relationships. It affects how they socialize, how they grow, and how they experience the world around them. That’s why we approach pediatric dysphagia with more than just clinical skill we bring compassion, creativity, and a deep understanding that every feeding journey is unique.

So this Dysphagia Awareness Month, we’re here to celebrate the strength behind every swallow. To acknowledge the parents, caregivers, and therapists who show up every day. To champion the kids who keep going, even when it’s hard. And to remind everyone that progress isn’t always linear but it’s always worth celebrating.

From one messy, joyful, courageous bite to the next Happy Dysphagia Awareness Month. We see you. We’re with you. And we BEELIEVE in you.