Mealtimes present one of the highest daily health risks for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Unsafe practices, environmental distractions, and failure to follow prescribed diets or texture modifications can lead to choking, aspiration, and other serious medical emergencies. Provider staff, support coordinators, and case managers all play a critical role in ensuring mealtime safety for individuals with IDD.

Plate It Safe: Avoiding Mealtime Risks is a self-paced health and safety training eLearn course designed to increase awareness of common mealtime hazards and strengthen safe, respectful mealtime practices. The curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary team to ensure practical, real-world application. The delivery of the training is flexible and tailored to meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This eLearn course prepares participants to implement safe mealtime practices and equips provider staff, support coordinators, and case managers with the knowledge needed to recognize risk factors, support direct support professionals (DSPs), and promote safer mealtime environments—without compromising dignity or choice.