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MISSION:
ABOUT SPINA BIFIDA:
HISTORY:
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The Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania (SBAWP) is a charitable, non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, especially those with spina bifida and their families, by providing a continuum of direct service, education and advocacy.
Spina bifida is one of the most devastating of all birth defects affecting nearly one out of every 1,000 newborns in the U.S. It results from the failure of the spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy exposing the nerves to damage or infection. At birth, the most obvious signs of spina bifida are either a cyst or indentation on the baby's spine. Surgery will close any opening, however, damaged nerves cannot be repaired. Individuals with this disability often suffer from loss of sensation in the lower extremities; bowel and bladder incontinence; leg and foot deformities and learning disabilities.
Since 1969, the SBAWP has evolved from a parent support group to become a nationally recognized provider of direct services to individuals with spina
bifida. The organization serves nearly 1000 children, teens and adults living in 28 counties within Western Pennsylvania and portions of New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.
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Last Updated: August 7, 2006 |
