Councils and Committees

Adult Advisory Council

The Adult Advisory Council (AAC) serves as a critical community champion of the Spina Bifida Association and adults with Spina Bifida. The members of the ACC share their gifts in service to our mission by providing SBA with their expertise; their diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives, their connections to local, national, and international resources, colleagues, and peers; their philanthropic support or other forms of needed assistance.

Members provide a diverse perspective on the needs and expectations of their peers and point SBA to valuable community, national, and even international resources. The service term is two years, and members may choose to re-apply at the end of their term.

To benefit from as many adult perspectives as possible, SBA strives to include members from various areas of the country, and diverse socioeconomic levels, ages, ethnicities, professions, and backgrounds.   

Members suggest topics, content, and presenters to be featured in SBA’s virtual programming series, including SB-YOU, SBA’s signature educational webinar series designed for, about, and by adults with Spina Bifida. 

The Adult Advisory Council features two committees

In addition to their areas of focus, both groups suggest topics, content, and presenters to be featured in SB-YOU virtual presentations, SBA’s signature educational webinar series designed for, about, and by adults with Spina Bifida. 

  1. Healthcare for Adults: members of this working group collaborate to identify and decrease health service and information deficits for adults living with Spina Bifida.
  2. Resources and Support: members seek ways to assist their adult peers with their questions about living with Spina Bifida, or connect them to other experienced adults or others who can help them address their needs.

Advisory Council Members

  • Amy Saffell
  • Karen Cushynr
  • Brian Gutiérrez
  • Karlin Bruegel
  • Brian Malone
  • Kristine Takemoto
  • Caitlin Shemas
  • Libby Powers
  • Cameron Williams
  • Melissa Kaye Ortiz
  • Charlotte Mountz
  • Monica Albert Still
  • Clarissa Noel
  • Randi Brynteson
  • Danielle Tate
  • Sarah Zetzl
  • Jay Dashefsky