What is Spina Bifida
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Resource Center?
SBA’s National Resource Center is the only service in the United States exclusively dedicated to addressing your questions about living with Spina Bifida.
Does SBA offer scholarships for tuition?
Although SBA does not offer scholarships for tuition, we’ve compiled a list of organizations that do. If you know of organizations and scholarships not listed below, please let us know so we may add them to this list!
- Price Benowitz Social Justice Scholarships
- 180 Medical Scholarship Program
- American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship Program
- Everylife Foundation for Rare Diseases
- Patient Care Medical Scholarship
- The Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation
- Scholarships.com lists several scholarships for people with disabilities.
- The United Spinal Association Spinal Cord Help Desk features a list of scholarships.
May SBA help me spread the word about my personal crowdfunding campaign?
The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) receives hundreds of requests every year to share personal crowdfunding campaigns from online fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe, FundRazr, and Fundly, with our social media followers.
While we encourage members of the Spina Bifida community to research and possibly use these platforms to raise money for personal and medical needs and equipment, as a 501(c)(3) public charity, SBA is not allowed to raise funds for individuals or endorse these efforts (per IRS policy). Additionally, we cannot choose particular campaigns from among the many worthy campaigns and events being held each year. For these reasons, SBA’s policy is not to share these efforts on our social media sites.
Where can I donate a wheelchair or other mobility device?
Although there is a significant need for donated wheelchairs, it can be challenging to find a local organization that will accept a used wheelchair or other device. Organizations often have a limited amount of storage space; it requires significant effort for families and individuals to travel to a local organization to get the wheelchair; and the cost to transport a chair outside of a local area is prohibitive.
Below are some of the organizations we have learned about that accept wheelchair or other mobility device donations.
Equipment Connections for Children in Columbia, MD accepts wheelchair and equipment donations. Be sure to read more about their donation requirements before making the trip.
Joni & Friends is a non-profit organization that through its Wheels for the World program has organized a number of wheelchair donation drop-off points across the United States.
Maryland Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use program is run by the Maryland Department of Aging. You may want to search if your state’s Department of Aging has a similar program.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Reutilization Program accepts gently used assistive technology/durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.
The Wheelchair Foundation website features a page with various organizations that offer wheelchair donation programs. However, please note that The Wheelchair Foundation itself does not fulfill requests for single wheelchairs. Their focus is to process bulk orders to different parts of the world (and in some cases, near Northern California and the Fort Lauderdale, FL area).
Do you know of other organizations that should be included? Let us know! Send an email to [email protected].
Should I worry about latex in vaccines?
While vaccines themselves may not have latex, anyone with allergy to latex should look into whether the vaccine packaging has come into contact with latex. The Asthma and Latex Allergy Network has up-to-date and reliable information about latex. Visit their page, Latex Allergy and Vaccines.
Be sure to also review the CDC’s information on latex and vaccine packaging and recommendations on the prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines.
