Giana Spear

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. 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 provided, and the results of our advocacy efforts. Understanding Through Education Each year, as many as 10,000 people are connected to accurate information from numerous reliable resources and publications through the National Resource Center on Spina Bifida – housed at our headquarters in Arlington, VA. 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. For those who want to learn from the comfort of their own home, SBA offers SB University (SBU), a series of online webinars designed to teach people about Spina Bifida and its complexities. SBA also supports all efforts to bring together leaders in health care and representatives of the Spina Bifida community. Every few years, SBA hosts the World Congress on Spina Bifida Research and Care, an international symposium of health care professionals, researchers and scientists dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of Spina Bifida.