Jessica Danley, clinical education coordinator for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program, has been selected to serve on the 2022-2024 Board of Directors for the national nonprofit Dysphagia Outreach Project.

Dysphagia is a condition which causes difficulty swallowing. It affects one in six adults annually, according to an analysis of a national healthcare survey published in the National Library of Medicine. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, it can lead to choking, malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration of liquids into the lungs, leading to pneumonia. Many patients require special dietary supplies, and some need expensive specialty medical equipment.

The Dysphagia Outreach Project aims to "provide meaningful assistance to individuals affected by dysphagia." The 100 percent volunteer-led nonprofit was founded by Hillary Cooper after she noticed that many of her patients with dysphagia were unable to thrive at home due to a lack of funds for necessary supplies such as thickener, respiratory muscle strength trainers and other adaptive equipment. This inspired her to create a nonprofit that would provide dysphagia supplies to individuals in need, educate others on the proper use of dysphagia supplies and establish support groups nationwide.

Since 2021 the organization has shipped over 300 care packages, raised over $50,000 for feeding supplies and provided assistance to over 180 families across the country.

Danley will serve as the director of university relations. In this role, she will connect undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in National Student Speech Language Hearing Association groups across the United States to raise donations and increase public awareness for dysphagia. She will also coordinate specialist-led educational opportunities for participating student groups.

Danley brings the board over 10 years of experience working with adult patients with swallowing disorders in a variety of settings, as well as her specialty training as a certified brain injury specialist.

For more information about the Dysphagia Outreach Project, visit www.dysphagiaoutreach.org.

Additional information on dysphagia can be found on the ASHA website.