Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs in 7 per 10,000 live births in the U.S. Around the ages of 5-8, these young children begin to ask questions as to why they are different from other children. These are questions that parents, teachers and even doctors often find difficult to answer. According to Amy Maggio, CEO of the Spina Bifida Association of IL, and Cara Wright, doctor of Pediatrics at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix AZ, an effective educational tool to answer these questions does not exist.

How does a child’s choice of a fictional character as a host/guide in a learning game affect their propensity to absorb information about spina bifida?

According to the Arizona Spina Bifida Association and the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois, “7 out of every 10,000 live births result in spina bifida.” The final product will be an educational tool in which children with Spina Bifida will be able to learn more about their birth defect. This tool will be intended for clinics, parents, schools, but mainly is designed for the children with spina bifida. Samantha’s Song, the educational tool, will be an interactive Flash game that will incorporate frequently asked questions from parents of the children with spina bifida and the Spina Bifida Association. The questions in the game will help educate the children and boost their self-esteem by being able to relay the correct answers to others. This game will be the third phase in a three part educational component sponsored by Dr. La Verne Abe Harris and Dr. Christopher A. Sanchez. Unlike the current use of brochures, medical websites, and specialized doctors; there isn’t an educational tool that exists that can educate children at their level. Our product will provide an engaging and interactive way for children to get answers to their common questions.