Illinois Spina Bifida Association

10/12/2026

This Wednesday, join Access Living for a free Medical Supply Swap event! Sponsored by Access Living Mutual Aid (ALMA) and Clean Air Club, donate your new or gently used items and take what you need from a variety of medical supplies, adaptive tools, and other useful disability-related items. Stop by and donate (see the list below for what we can accept) or just browse what's available. Learn more at accessliving.org/events/
What items can I donate to the swap?
- Unopened medical supplies such as gloves, bandages, alcohol wipes, masks, be pads, incontinence supplies, menstrual supplies, ostomy supplies, feeding tube supplies
- Unopened/clean adaptive tools and physical therapy supplies such as cooking utensils, office supplies, hobby equipment, and toys
- Unopened/clean sensory tools, including stim toys, ear defenders, and weighted items
What items will not be accepted?
- Medication
- Used/open single-use supplies, such as needles, tubing, diapers, toothbrushes
- Mobility aids including wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc.
- Dirty or damaged items

10/10/2026

🖤💛 **GO TEAM ISBA! TOMORROW, WE RACE FOR A REASON!** 💛🖤

Tomorrow morning, Team ISBA will take on the Chicago Marathon, and we couldn’t be prouder of every member of our incredible team!

To our amazing runners, THANK YOU for your dedication, your fundraising efforts, and the countless hours of training and preparation you’ve put in over the past several months. Your commitment to the Illinois Spina Bifida Association means more than you know!

💛 **Keep your eyes peeled for those black and gold Team ISBA jerseys along the marathon course!** 🖤 These runners are doing more than conquering 26.2 miles. They are helping power our mission and making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families living with spina bifida throughout Illinois.

The Chicago Marathon is ISBA’s largest annual fundraiser, and the generosity, determination, and heart of Team ISBA help us continue providing essential programs, resources, advocacy, and support to the spina bifida community across our state.

Tomorrow, every mile matters. Every dollar makes a difference. And every runner represents a community worth running for. 💛

📣 **Help us cheer on Team ISBA!** If you’re watching the marathon, look for those black and gold jerseys, give our runners a shout-out, and share some encouragement in the comments!

To Team ISBA: We’re cheering you on every step of the way. Thank you for racing with purpose, running with heart, and racing for the spina bifida community!

**26.2 miles. One incredible team. One powerful mission. LET’S GO, TEAM ISBA!** 🖤💛

10/09/2026

Join the Illinois Spina Bifida Association Marathon Team
Secure Your Spot in the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon!
Visit www.i-sba.org/marathon for more info

10/06/2026

More wheelchair choice means more opportunities for independence.
Congress has passed the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026 (H.R. 1703), legislation that would give Medicare beneficiaries greater flexibility to choose ultralightweight manual wheelchairs made with titanium or carbon fiber.
SBA worked alongside the ITEM Coalition to help prepare and advance this legislation, and we’re grateful to the lawmakers and advocates who helped move it forward.
If signed into law, the changes would take effect January 1, 2028. While the additional out-of-pocket costs may still be a barrier for some, this legislation represents important progress toward giving people more choice in the equipment they rely on every day.
Read more:

Legislation reversing a decade of Medicare payment policy that made it too expensive for many seniors to buy ultra-lightweight manual wheelchairs is on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk after the Senate quietly cleared it late Wednesday night. As one of the chamber’s last acts before adjo...

10/01/2026

💙 October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month!

This month, the Illinois Spina Bifida Association celebrates the incredible strength, resilience, and accomplishments of people living with Spina Bifida. We’re proud to be alongside individuals, families, caregivers, and advocates who help build a more inclusive and supportive community.

Let’s use this month to raise awareness, celebrate possibilities, amplify voices, and inspire understanding. Together, we can help create a world where everyone with Spina Bifida has the opportunity to thrive. 💙

Join us throughout October as we celebrate our community and spread awareness!

09/21/2026

In what is thought to be the first of its kind in the U.S., Hoffman Estates Fire is hosting special needs residents from the area at our first Fully Involved Fire Academy.

Attendees of the Academy learn about fire safety, forcing open doors, completing search and obstacle courses, go for rides in the rigs, go up in the ladder truck, do a live extrication demonstration and hit targets with the fire hose among other things.

This is a great opportunity for people of all abilities to experience the fire service. HEFD is partnered with the Special Recreation Association to create a memorable and educational experience.

https://www.hoffmanestates.org/tiles_detail_T8_R213.php

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

Spina Bifida and Healthy Eating: Practical Nutrition Tips
Making mealtimes manageable while supporting health and independence can be a challenge. Join us for practical nutrition tips for families raising children with Spina Bifida!
🗓 Tuesday, September 22, 2026
⏰ 7 PM ET | 6 PM CT | 5 PM MT | 4 PM PT
🎙️ Featuring JoAnne Whelan, PhD, LD, RDN
We’ll explore picky eating, meal planning, medication timing, protein for healing and wound management, and applying SBA’s Nutrition guidelines to everyday family life.
🔗 Register now: https://vist.ly/5ikai

09/18/2026

Thanks WGN TV & Erin McElroy for profiling ISBA Marathon Team members Curtis Hargrove & Mandy Ziegler! Watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJVdnKe5pA and click the donate link in the comments to help improve the quality of life of people with

09/14/2026

Via Forest Park Public Library.

Come dance and get happy! Everyone is welcome to this inclusive and joyful dance party with dance instructor Mr. Sidney on the Roos Center court.

Registration required. Participants under 18 must bring an adult caregiver and those of any age who need the support of a caregiver must be accompanied for their well-being. Masks will be available.

This event is co-sponsored by The Forest Park Public Library, WSSRA and The Park District of Forest Park.

This is a free event but you must pre-register!

Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/49ahy3nx