Business settings 11 07

SPINA BIFIDA ASSOCIATION OF [NAME OF LOCAL SBA]

What is Spina Bifida?

What is Spina Bifida?• The most common, permanent and

disabling birth defect in the United States


Who is at risk?• Eight babies are born with Spina

Bifida every day

• 60 million women are at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida


What are the effects of Spina Bifida?

• Ongoing medical challenges – Full or partial paralysis– Nervous system complications– Bladder and bowel control difficulties– Learning disabilities– Depression – Social and sexual issues– Latex allergy


What does this mean for [name of the organization]?


• Latex allergy – 70% of children and adolescents with Spina Bifida

are sensitive to latex

– Items made with latex include:

• Promotional items like stress balls

• Balloons

• Rubber bands

• Rubber erasers

How does Spina Bifida happen?• First month of pregnancy

– Before most women know they are pregnant

• The spine does not close– Causes an opening or lesion

– Damaged nerves may result in varying degrees of paralysis


What happens after birth?• Surgery

– Reduces risk of infection

– Further damage to the spinal cord

• Life-long treatment and care


Can Spina Bifida be prevented?• Exact cause is not known• Medical research confirms link between

folic acid and Spina Bifida*• Women who take 400 mcg of folic acid

every day reduce the risk by up to 70%.– BEFORE becoming pregnant – During first three months of pregnancy

* (and other birth defects)


What is folic acid?• B-vitamin that builds healthy cells

• In most multivitamins

• Foods– Leafy green vegetables (broccoli and spinach)

– Fruits and juices (orange juice)

– Folic acid-fortified breakfast cereals and other bread and grain products

The surest way to get enough folic acid every day

is to take a vitamin with folic acid.


Our Mission

• Promote prevention of Spina Bifida

• Enhance the lives of all affected


What We Do• [Number of individuals and families

served]

• Serve as a liaison with local or nearby medical experts

• Engage in community activities


Our Friends in the Community• [List your current community

partners]


What can [name of local SBA] offer [name of the organization]?• [Provide informational materials about folic

acid and Spina Bifida in English and Spanish]

• [Family members and staff to volunteer at your events]

• [List your organization name and logo in our Web site and newsletter]


What can [name of local SBA] offer [name of the organization]?• [Present information about folic acid to your

members or staff]

• [Present before the organization’s support groups/regular meetings]

• [Present a personal story about Spina Bifida and the importance of taking folic acid every day]


What can [name of local SBA] offer [name of the organization]?

• [Present a personal story about Spina Bifida and talk about the importance of taking folic acid every day]


What can [name of the organization] do for [name of local SBA]?

• [Volunteer/sponsor/co-sponsor/in-kind] at upcoming [name of event]

• [Invite your chapter to present information about folic acid to their members or staff]

• [Present information about your organization to our chapter]


What can [name of the organization] do for [name of local SBA]?

• [Help us distribute materials by sharing them with your members]

• [Help local SBA identify reliable translation options]


Additional Resources• [Local contact information, including name,

address, e-mail address, and phone/fax number]

• Spina Bifida Association– National Resource Center: 1-800-621-3141– www.spinabifidaassociation.org


Questions?


Business settings 11 07

Health & Medicine

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