Spina Bifida Association (SBA)

The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) serves adults and children who live with the challenges of Spina Bifida.  Since 1973, SBA has been the only national voluntary health agency solely dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with Spina Bifida and those whose lives are touched by this challenging birth defect.  Its tools are education, advocacy, research, and service.

Through its network of chapters, SBA has a presence in more than 125 communities nationwide and touches thousands of people each year.  Lives are changed by the programs SBA has created, the services the organization provides, and the accomplishments of its advocacy efforts.

Understanding Through Education
Each year, as many as 10,000 people are connected with accurate information from numerous reliable resources and publications through the National Resource Center on Spina Bifida - housed in our headquarters in Washington, DC.  Often, assistance is provided through a referral to a caring person at an SBA chapter where compassionate support can be found in one's own community. 

The quest for new information, the celebration of lives being lived to their fullest, and the unity of a community built on caring and compassion are embodied through  SBA's National Conference held in June. 

SBA also supports all efforts to bring together leaders in health care and representatives of the Spina Bifida community. In 2003, a research agenda was defined at a ground breaking conference entitled "Evidence-Based Practice in Spina Bifida." This agenda is gaining momentum and yielding first fruits.

Our Message of Hope and Prevention
Through SBA's efforts, millions of people have received vital information about Spina Bifida and how it affects those who live with it.  Countless women know about the importance of taking folic acid prior to pregnancy to reduce the risk of Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects as a result of SBA's outreach campaigns. 

Nurturing Our Next Generation of Leaders
SBA invests in the future by encouraging students with Spina Bifida through a series of scholarship programs. These scholarships are an important part of SBA's efforts to help people born with Spina Bifida achieve their full potential through higher education.

If you are interested in supporting SBA in its efforts, please click here.