We recommend a variety of internal and external resources for patients in the Aerodigestive Center and their families:
Informational resources
- Feeding Matters: an organization devoted to promoting awareness of pediatric feeding disorders
- Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation: a support organization that also raises awareness of tube feeding
- Family TIES of Massachusetts: a support network for families of children with special needs
- Family Resource Centers of Massachusetts: a statewide network of community-based providers offering multicultural parenting programs, support groups, early childhood services, information and referral resources, and education for families
- The Oley Foundation: an organization aimed at enriching the lives of those living with home intravenous nutrition and tube feeding through education, advocacy, and networking
The modified barium swallow study: What's it like?
This test can help clinicians determine whether a child is aspirating, or inhaling food or liquid into their lungs.
Financial resources
- Catastrophic Illness Relief Fund for Children in Massachusetts: provides financial assistance to qualified families caring for children with special health needs and disabilities
- First Hand Foundation: [rovides funding for individual children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted
- United Healthcare Children's Foundation: helps families gain access to care through medical grants
- Health Well's Pediatric Assistance Fund: provides financial assistance to eligible families of critically ill children
Additional resources
The social worker on your child's care team can help if you need assistance in any of the following areas:
- resources for coping with chronic illness, managing pain, stress and anxiety, sibling support, or post-partum depression
- resources related to housing, legal matters, food, finances, respite, transition planning into adulthood, LGBTQ issues, or immigration
- resources for educational needs (including advocacy and assistance with IEP/504 plans and bullying)
For detailed information about visiting Boston Children's Hospital and other available resources, visit our Patient Resources page.