donations to support its mission to promote awareness about Spina Bifida and to enhance the lives of those affected. With your help we will continue to change lives through advocacy, education and public awareness, taking action to enrich the present and inspire hope for the future. Please consider making a donation today!
Please click the "Donate" button above. When we receive your
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Thank you for your support!
Insights magazine
SBA's quarterly magazine, serves to educate and enlighten with articles about medical conditions, employment, family issues, advocacy, research, and SBA activities.
Insights is is available for a subscription cost of $25 per year. Multi-year subscription discounts are available.
If you would like to receive a subscription to Insights, please visit the Marketplace or email sbaa@sbaa.org for more information.
If you would like to submit an article or provide feedback on a past issue, please email editor@sbaa.org.
Illuminations
The Illuminations: Resources for Parenting a Child with Spina Bifida Program (Illuminations) Program provides parents and caregivers of persons living with Spina Bifida tools and resources at critical points in development and transition. Typically, this communication will begin at birth and continue on through the life cycle but, because this program may be new to you, your family can be introduced to the program at any time. Educational and informational resources are available and oriented to the following developmental age groupings:
Newborn/Infant (newborn-2 years)
Toddler/Pre-school (3-5 years)
School Age (6-9 years)
Tweens (10-13 years)
Teens (14-17 years)
Young adults (18-21 years).
Spina Bifida Clinic
Arnold Palmer Medical Center
Spina Bifida Center
92 W. Miller St.
Mail point 358
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone: 321-841-5609
Nurse line 321-841-5683 or 321-841-1664
Web site: http://www.orlandoregional.org/arnoldpalmerhospital/index.aspx
SBACFL hosts a Back-to-School event each year where free school supplies are given to students as supplies last. Free food and activities are also provided.
Each year SBACFL is able to provide tickets to the circus for its members and immediate family. This is due to a very generous donation made by the Shriners Hospital for Orthopaedic Conditions in Tampa. Our families look forward to this event every year!
SBACFL recognizes the importance of having an amazing local Spina Bifida Clinic and expresses that support through a luncheon for the staff, doctors, nurses and medical suppliers that attend Clinic.
SBACFL participates in events that directly relate to education, awareness and prevention. SBACFL is currently involved in a project in Orange County schools to help students and teachers be more sensitive to those that have special needs.
SBACFL hosts an annual holiday party for our members and their families.
SBACFL provides information to anyone needing information about Spina Bifida or the SBACFL. Our local Spina Bifida Clinic has packets with Chapter specific information that are handed out to families at each Clinic.
SBACFL publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for its members. The newsletter features columns that pertain directly to the SBACFL membership. Local events/resources that may interest the membership are listed, as well as a listing of upcoming SBACFL events. Newsletters are emailed out to those that have email addresses. Those who prefer to receive the newsletter via USPS receive a newsletter once per quarter. Newsletters are also distributed to the Spina Bifida Clinic.
SBACFL organizes playdates throughout the year. Locations and activities vary, but we make it a point to make sure everyone can be involved by selecting places that have clean restrooms and are accessible by all. These playdates allow the children to get to know each other. They also provide a great opportunity for parents to be with other parents that are facing many of the same struggles.
SBACFL makes scholarships available for multiple uses. SBACFL offers scholarships to attend the annual Spina Bifida Conference, scholarships to camps (special and non-special needs) and community awareness scholarships. In the future we hope to also provide scholarships for individuals to attend the college of their choice.
SBACFL maintains a Facebook page and a Yahoo! Group so members can connect with one another. The Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SBACFL) is open to the public. The Yahoo! Group (search SBA of Central Florida) is only for the membership and provides a safe place to share information about health concerns and other more personal information. Both groups are moderated.
The purpose of the WALK-N-ROLL for Spina Bifida is to raise funds to support the mission of the Spina Bifida Association of Central Florida (to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and enhance the lives of all affected) and spread awareness throughout the Central Florida community and beyond. This event is family friendly and provides free food and fun for everyone. The “Walk/Roll” consists of either a half mile or mile loop around the park. Participants are welcome to walk/roll around the loops as many times as they’d like.
SBACFL organizes gatherings for our Young Adults. It might be a gathering at a restaurant or hanging out at Downtown Disney… all events are geared towards developing a connection between the Young Adults and giving them someone to talk to that “understands.”
SBACFL has many programs and services that they would like to provide once funds become available. These programs/services include:
Welcome Home Gifts/Packets for new parents that have a child with Spina Bifida
Providing manuals to local school districts so they can provide safe latex-free environments
Securing and maintaining a publicly accessible office for our membership
Building and maintaining a library of resource materials
Building and maintaining a supply of gently used walkers/wheelchairs to be used as needed
Initiating programs to encourage independence and raise self-esteem in all individuals with Spina Bifida
Purchasing hand-propelled bicycles and other adapted equipment to be shared by families
Events for Teens and Tweens
Additional Scholarships for post-secondary education
Financial Assistance Fund – to provide assistance to families for costs associated with medical and educational expenses
