Snatch a Spoon

“I have never experienced any sense of accommodation for my disorder…It is not our fault that we can’t eat what is on the menu at a restaurant. Thank you for advocating for people like me.” – KG, Person with Dysphagia

Over the holidays, my mother introduced our family to a card game that she used to play with her siblings called Spoons. Although there are different ways to play this game, the main idea is that everyone must reach towards the center of the table and grab a spoon quickly. You don’t want to get caught without one! The excitement of snatching a spoon reminded me of the anticipation of waiting for a favorite dish to cool from the oven.

Respondents to the survey I created about dining options were mostly people who identified with having dysphagia. Next, were caregivers and family members. This mysterious and perceived invisible nature of dysphagia to the public coincides with my actual job as a speech-language pathologist. Many people can tell you what a physical therapist does and can usually see the results. Speech therapy? - “I talk just fine.” The presence of swallowing disorders is not just numbers. There are people who yearn to grab a spoon of something yummy beside the people who love them! This blog is all about the people behind the utensils and making changes on what goes on them - one conversation, one post, one day a time. #dysphoodie #advocacy #inclusion #diningdiversity #speechpathology #dysphagia