Occupational Therapist Provides Recipe for Success to Safer School Meals
Dawn Albarado Sonnier, an OTR from Louisiana, ignited a district-wide transformation to improve student well-being during school mealtimes.
Dawn Albarado Sonnier, LOTR, CAPS
Occupational Therapist, Livingston Parish Public Schools
Location: Louisiana
Certified in 1999
Creating a Safer Eating Environment at School
Whenever Dawn Albarado Sonnier, an OTR from Louisiana, identifies an area of need, she addresses that need however is required to positively impact her community. This is evident in Dawn’s leadership and advocacy on an initiative to promote safe eating for all students at Livingston Parish Public Schools.
When a student on Dawn’s caseload required smooth pureed food based on a doctor’s order, Dawn spoke with cafeteria staff and learned that they did not know how to prepare such food. She realized this was not an isolated case; health care staff throughout the school system lacked knowledge of and experience in dysphagia and food modifications. Dawn seized an opportunity to help students across the school district (approximately 52 schools), educating her supervisor and the Director of Special Education about the need for support in dysphagia and associated areas.
Dawn advocated for the creation of a multidisciplinary dysphagia team. The team focused on fostering an understanding of dysphagia; promoting safe eating for all district students; and educating staff, students, and families about how to support a student with dysphagia. Dawn consulted a community-based dietician about food modifications. Together, they crafted a presentation to educate staff and parents on terms such as dysphagia, aspiration, and choking, as well as the signs and symptoms to look for in the school setting. School staff received comprehensive training so that they had the knowledge and skills to identify potential swallowing difficulties, safely modify food textures, and confidently support students during mealtimes.
Dawn’s dedication, leadership, and advocacy created a more inclusive and nurturing school environment where students requiring a modified diet can now safely enjoy school mealtimes and participate in valued social interactions with their peers.
“Dawn has impacted many professionals within our parish through the creation of a multidisciplinary dysphagia team. She has worked closely with a local nutritionist [who] has provided continuing education for our cafeteria staff, fellow occupational therapists, and paraprofessional staff on texture modifications, achieving the correct texture, and most importantly, how to make the food taste good when it is modified. … Dawn will frequently travel to other therapists’ schools to help educate cafeteria and classroom staff on student needs. She will also provide trainings for staff members on continuing education days. Through her multidisciplinary approach to treatment and education, we have been able to identify students with safety concerns during meal times that had not been identified before and often have classroom staff identify concerns and contact us for help.”
Mary Camp, MOT, LOTR
Dawn's colleague
Making a Lasting Impact
Dawn impacted the lives of students, parents, colleagues, and professionals within the school system through her relentless pursuit to improve the occupational experience of eating at school. By offering training on how to modify food textures at home, she equipped parents with skills to nurture stronger bonds with their children and create positive mealtime experiences. In the case of the initial student who sparked the initiative, these interventions led to significant improvements in health, communication, and quality of life. Other parents who participated in the food modification training have indicated that they feel better able to provide for their child.
“My son had a feeding tube and he could only eat using that feeding tube. With the help of Mrs. Dawn, my son started eating more puree foods and she gave him a button that he could press for more food when he wanted another bite. Over time, he started pressing the button more and more for food and he was eating more.”
Sindi Ulloa, parent (translated from Spanish)
Dawn’s impact extends beyond the immediate student population. By updating the district’s standardized Food Prescription Form, she improved communication between school staff and medical providers, ensuring clarity and consistency in food modification instructions. Her efforts have created systemic change in the school district, promoting a safer environment for students with swallowing difficulties and enhancing collaboration across disciplines.
“When Dawn identifies an area that needs improvement, she immediately takes action. This is how the dysphagia team came into existence. The need of one student triggered her action, which ultimately impacted numerous students within our district as well as parents and staff. This one action has created lasting change that will positively impact many students now and in the future.”
Laurie Simon, LOT
Award nominator
A Legacy of Advocacy and Mentorship
Dawn’s work showcases her unwavering dedication to creating lasting change that improves the lives of students and their families. Her advocacy for better dysphagia support in schools not only improved student safety and well-being but also empowered staff to take ownership of the skills they acquired. Her leadership and mentorship have ensured that the systems she implemented will continue to support students for years to come.
Dawn's influence also extends to future OTRs. She shares her expertise in dysphagia through lectures to master’s-level OT students at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and Shreveport. By fostering a nurturing, inclusive, and educational environment, Dawn embodies the values of occupational therapy. She demonstrates that with collaboration and advocacy, even the most complex challenges can be met with care, knowledge, and action.