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.

Early Bird Fee

Register & submit your abstract to join the 31st International Conference on Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus taking place in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on 15-17 October 2026. Early Bird Registration closes on 31 March 2026.

Call for Abstracts

Submit your abstract for the 31st International Conference on Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, exploring the theme A Lifetime of Experiences: From Preconception to Aging.”

We especially encourage country update abstracts from IF members, showcasing national projects, advocacy efforts, and initiatives advancing health equity. These contributions are essential to promote exchange, learning between countries, and stronger global collaboration.

Latest news

6 March 2026

International Women’s Day 2026 Webinar: Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities

IF hosted its International Women’s Day webinar, bringing together women with disabilities, advocates, policy-makers, and allies from around the world. Guided by the UN theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, the event offered a global platform to amplify lived experiences, explore systemic barriers, and showcase solutions for meaningful inclusion.
5 March 2026

IF Members Meeting: SBH Associations in Latin America Strengthen Regional Collaboration

IF hosted the first LATAM SBH Associations Meeting of the year, bringing together representatives from member organisations across Latin America. Participants joined from Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, and Ecuador, alongside IF representatives, to exchange updates, share experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration within the region.
3 March 2026

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Opens its 34th Session

The 34th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is underway. Learn how SBH Associations can participate, submit shadow reports, and help shape disability rights implementation in their countries.
24 February 2026

IF Opens 2026 with First Members Gathering, Setting Global Priorities.

IF held its first Members Meeting of 2026 on 24 February, welcoming 43 members from across its global network. The meeting offered a platform to reflect on 2025 achievements, share national initiatives, and define priorities for the year ahead.

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].