SERVICES SBWIS PROVIDES
To be eligible for all SBWIS services, adult/child/infant must have Spina Bifida, and reside within WI. We may require you to provide proof of SB diagnosis, upon request, to receive financial assistance. Please expect up to 2 weeks for requests to be processed and granted. We always appreciate receiving photos emailed to Kathy at sbwis@sbwis.org after you’ve received assistance so we can show our generous donors the faces of the people they support.
Campership fund
The Campership Fund is established to promote activities that provide independence and socialization in a camp setting, and is available, as funds allow, for our members with Spina Bifida, ages 7 and older, wanting to attend their favorite day or overnight camp. Campership funding is $700.00 per calendar year and must be paid directly to the camp. It is your responsibility to communicate with the camp to invoice SBWIS, and ensure payment is received by their registration deadline. We wish to thank U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation for a generous grant to support this service.
Specific to campers wishing to attend something at UW-Whitewater, the steps are a bit different. First, complete our request for campership funding. When approved for funding, you’ll receive an email that includes an online registration code. Enter this code when you complete the UW-Whitewater online registration, $700.00 will show as paid, and you can proceed with completing their process.
For a list of summer camp possibilities, scroll on this page to the resource lists and click download.
CLICK TO REQUest campership funding
TODDLERS ON THE MOVE PROGRAM
SBWIS recognizes the importance of exploration for a child's growth and development. SBWIS loans qualifying Wisconsin toddlers a zipzac mobility device for up to 3 years for FREE (with a $160.00 cash deposit; refundable upon return of the equipment if contract is adhered to 100%). Allowing a child independence and mobility improves their quality of life. Consider the importance of providing a tool for your child to gain mobility, independence and expand their opportunity to explore their environment. Experience has shown that using a zip zac does not delay or prevent your child from the potential of being ambulatory. Parents have remarked how having this tool has motivated their toddler to move, helped them understand they can initiate movement, learn skills that transfer to using a walker or wheelchair and reduced their child’s frustration.
*Due to the nature of the zip zac seat it absorbs smoke odor. We have dedicated 1 red and 1 blue zip zac for smoking homes.
Click for more information and to enroll
caregiver guide
This guide was developed mainly by parents of our youngest members with Spina Bifida. The intent of the guide is a tool to use when customizing a guide about your own child to provide caregivers. The instructions can be downloaded and viewed by clicking HERE.
Download and open the guide to customize for your own child by clicking HERE.
adaptive RECREATION PROgram or equipment FUND
This fund is established to promote healthy lifestyles and community involvement for children and adults with Spina Bifida. Funds can help with YMCA membership, wheelchair basketball program fees, sled hockey fees, City Park and Recreation program fees or towards the purchase of recreational adaptive equipment. Equipment examples include sport wheelchair, outrigger poles for snow skiing, specialized bicycle, magnifier for reading, cooking and art supplies. Requests can be made for $150.00 by parents/guardians and adults with spina bifida once per calendar year. We would like fund recipients to provide a photo and testimony for SBWIS to share with our donors and followers on social media.
CLICK TO REQUEST recreation FUNDING
Life Could Be Better Fund - AVAILABLE AGAIN IN 2025
Made possible by a gift from the Enterprise Mobility Foundation!
FAMILY FUND
The Family Fund is established to help parents/guardians afford expenses related to caring for their child with Spina Bifida. Appropriate requests include assistance in paying for medical expenses, insurance copayments, incontinence products, shoes, over the counter medications and supplements. To request Family Fund assistance, click below and complete the online form. Requests can be made for $150.00 once per calendar year per child with Spina Bifida (birth to 17 years of age).
CLICK TO REQUEST FAMILY FUNDING
Footwear fund
We recognize the expense and limited selection of options of appropriate shoes, socks, slippers and boots for our members. We are able to offer this service thanks to a generous contribution from Dr. Scholl Foundation. This reimbursement fund contributes up to $75.00 to our members (age 2 years and older) towards your purchase of shoes, boots, socks, adaptive footwear, specialty footwear. Reimbursement can be requested by completing this form. You are eligible until you reach the $75 per year cap. In addition to submitting this form please submit via email, proof of purchase/payment.
If purchasing BILLY Footwear, please see our specific website page for Billy’s, to learn about using our SBWIS link or QR code, so submitting a receipt is not required.
CLICK TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST
Mary Ann Potts SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FUND -ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS!
We admire the drive and tenacity it takes for our members to pursue higher education. SBWIS is proud to offer this financial assistance due to the generous donation from the Potts family in memory of Mary Ann Potts, Ph.D. who had Spina Bifida and achieved her dreams! This fund was established in 1996 by the Potts/Weaver family. We want to learn about your dreams and future plans. Your application must communicate your goals and help us understand how you tackle life and overcome obstacles to reach these goals. Deadline for submission is midnight April 28, 2024. Good luck!
It is past the 2024 deadline for submitting applications, however the link is still active so inquiring candidates can preview what will be expected in the future.
2024 candidates will be notified during the week of May 6th, 2024
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION & SUBMIT APPLICATION
adult independence fund
This fund was established to help adults with Spina Bifida (age 18 years or older) afford expenses related to living with Spina Bifida. Requests can be made to help you afford things like transportation, home security systems, moving expenses, rent, incontinence products, medications or supplements, service dog expenses and vehicle repairs. To request Adult Independence Fund assistance, click below and complete the online form. Requests can be made for $200.00 once per calendar year per adult with Spina Bifida (age 18 years and older). You can not request both Family and Adult Independence Fund Assistance in the same calendar year.
CLICK TO REQUEST ADULT INDEPENDENCE FUNDING
Blankets of hugs
When your family member with spina bifida is hospitalized, or recovering at home after surgery, our wish is to offer comfort from our community. These blankets were made by volunteers and can be mailed to you. When covered in the blanket, think of it as a hug, from us to you! Complete this request form, and the blanket will be shipped directly to your home.
CLICK TO REQUEST A BLANKET
MATCH AND MEET
SBWIS members can opt in to this program when they request services. You are giving permission for SBWIS to share your first name and email with other SB families to help you connect with others in your age group and/or geographical location. This program encourages the peer support that is vital when you or a family member has SB. When SBWIS has identified a MATCH, an email will be sent to both of you so you can contact each other and potentially MEET.
CLICK TO AGREE TO MATCH AND MEET
BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT
We are doing social media birthday announcements for our members with Spina Bifida that includes a photo and brief bio (first name, age, county of residence, hobbies and interests). We will email you prior to the birth date to collect this information.
CLICK TO COMPLETE & SUBMIT FORM
Email blasts
We send emails with resources and events to keep you informed. When you request a service, attend an event, or complete the contact us form, you are automatically included in our email blasts. If you are a GMAIL user, these may arrive in your “promotions” box instead of your “primary inbox” and you may miss important information. You can prevent this by following the steps shown HERE.
RESOURCE LISTs OF WEBSITES
DOWNLOAD list for Advocacy, Adaptive Clothing and Assistive Technology.
DOWNLOAD list for General SB Info, Housing, Independent Living and Legal Info.
DOWNLOAD list for Children, Camps, Recreation and Education.
DOWNLOAD list for Driving, Disability, Employment and Financial.
DOWNLOAD list for Teens, Life Transitions and Sexuality.
Peristeen Plus bowel management system info / coloplast
Click this video link: USCC_Peristeen_Plus_pediatric_how_to_use_PM-18748.mp4
For a webinar about Peristeen Plus Adult and Child click this link: https://www.bigmarker.com/coloplast-corp1/Peristeen-Upgraded-What-to-Expect-with-Peristeen-Plus
sPINA bIFIDA aSSOCIATION LIFESPAN BOWEL PROTOCOL
https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/lifespan-bowel-management-protocol/