Our vision

A society that guarantees the human rights of all people born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and practices primary prevention of neural tube defects.

WFAAW webinar

You are invited! Our champions on food fortification policies will offer their perspectives, and expert advice for a healthier, stronger, and smarter future for all.

Register now

Register to join the 31st International Conference on Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus taking place in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on 15-17 October 2026.

October Awareness Month

A month of global engagement during which IF Members and partners organised various initiatives, highlighting the diverse experiences and aspirations of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus community.

Latest news

22 November 2025

IF International Youth Group SBH: Reflecting and looking ahead

2025 has been a powerful reminder of the importance of youth leadership and global solidarity among young people living with SBH. As the Youth Group, we dedicated our efforts to understanding and amplifying the voices of our community, especially around mental health, identity, and disability acceptance.
21 November 2025

IF Working Group on Ageing with SBH: Reflecting and looking ahead

As the year comes to an end, we take the opportunity to reflect on our various achievements and the exciting activities that the IF Working Group on Ageing with SBH carried out during 2025. 
20 November 2025

Celebrating 10 Years of IF’s Participation in the Bridge CRPD-SDGs Initiative

In October 2025, IF marked 10 years of active engagement in the Bridge CRPD–SDGs initiative with a special anniversary meeting held in Bangkok.
18 November 2025

Launch of Factsheet on Genetics and Neural Tube Defects

We are excited to release the first factsheet of its kind exploring the role of genetics in Neural Tube Defects (NTDs). This resource has been created to provide clear, accessible information for families, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in understanding how genetics can influence NTDs.

Discover our work

Prevention

Tackling the primary prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) and hydrocephalus as a united global community.

Right to health

Fighting for access to affordable multidisciplinary healthcare for people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and their families.

Raising awareness

Fostering inclusion, respect, and stronger rights for persons with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus through awareness-raising.

World SBH Day

Established in 2011 to celebrate achievements and accelerate global action for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Human Rights

Protecting human rights and promoting living with dignity, access to essential services, and full participation in society.

Community Building

Building bridges and empowering national Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus associations to advocate for our rights.

Our members

IF’s fast-growing membership now includes over 100 Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) associations in Africa, Australia, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Membership of IF is open to all nationally registered SBH associations that share IF’s vision and mission and actively involve people with SBH in their work. Organisations, institutions, companies and individuals with an interest in SBH and the aim to widen the extent of their activities are also welcome to apply for IF membership. Check out our Membership Guide to learn more!

Please note that this map also displays SBH associations that are not a member of IF. They are represented by a red dot. If you know of an SBH association not represented below, please email us at [email protected].