Swallowing Awareness Day 2026
Swallowing Awareness Day took place on 18 March this year, highlighting the challenges faced by people who experience difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing – also known as dysphagia.
Dysphagia can affect anyone.
At the Percy Hedley Foundation, 38% of our children at Percy Hedley School and 22% at Northern Counties school have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing. In Hedley’s College 18% of students and in Horizons adult day service, 48% of our service users have dysphagia. Our dedicated team of Speech and Language Therapists work tirelessly to ensure the individuals we support with dysphagia receive the specialist care and support they need.
Jennie Morgan, our Dysphagia Lead at the Foundation, helped us create this video to explain what dysphagia is and raise awareness of the challenges people living with the condition can experience.
Swallowing Awareness Day coincides with the national NHS Nutrition and Hydration Week, and we marked the week across the Foundation by hosting a range of informative and inclusive sessions.
Horizons hosted a menu taster day featuring potential new meals for both standard and modified diets, giving members the opportunity to explore the range of options available and experience how enjoyable modified meals can be.
Percy Hedley School also followed suit as our kitchen staff prepared a variety of delicious modified meals for staff to sample.
The session also included a demonstration of ‘Biozoon’ which is flavoured air.
Northern Counties set up a stall demonstrating the different IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative) levels and spoke to learners about dysphagia.
We rounded off the week with a visit to Cassia Silverlink, a brilliant local restaurant that provides modified meal options for those with swallowing difficulties.
Our members had a fantastic time, enjoying the experience of visiting a restaurant without feeling limited by food options.
People with dysphagia can often feel isolated, as many everyday experiences we take for granted (such as dining out) are not always accessible in venues that do not offer modified food. Places like Cassia play an important role in helping the individuals we support feel included in their community and valued.
Raising awareness of dysphagia is essential in creating a more inclusive community. Some individuals may take longer to eat, require specialist equipment, or need blended or modified diets to ensure they can eat safely.
To learn more about dysphagia, take a look at these useful resources below.