- [Voiceover] We are the National Center
on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
And every day we save babies through birth defects
prevention and research,
help children live to the fullest by understanding
developmental disabilities like autism,
protect people by preventing complications
of blood disorders, and improve the health
of people living with disabilities.
We gather data and conduct research
in order to educate health care professionals
and the public, so that our science can improve
the health and quality of life of the people
our center serves.
Birth defects are common,
costly, and critical.
Our research estimates that one in 33 babies
is born with a birth defect in the U.S.,
and one in five infant deaths is due to birth defects.
Our center's work helps to prevent birth defects,
resulting in thousands more healthy babies each year.
As an example, smoking causes some oral facial clefts,
and we could prevent more than 400 each year
in the U.S. by helping women stop smoking before
or in early pregnancy.
We can't stop here.
Our research has found that
an estimated one in 68 children
has been identified as having autism
in communities across the U.S.
Because of the work of our center over the past decade,
we know more about these children
and how to best support individuals,
families, and communities.
And through our Learn the Signs Act Early Program
we are partnering with health care professionals,
educators, and parents to promote early identification
of developmental delays in children
using this powerful tool to help families now.
But despite our center's work,
there remains an urgent need to continue
the search for answers
and provide help for children living with autism.
We can't stop here.
Blood disorders effect millions
of Americans, regardless of age, race,
gender, or income.
For example, the center's data show that there are about
20,000 people with hemophilia,
mostly males, in the U.S.
Treatment is expensive,
but our research shows that early treatment
can make a difference.
Venous Thromboembolism, or VTE,
is a blood clot found mostly in the leg and lungs,
and is the number three cardiovascular killer globally.
Over half of VTE events are directly related to
a recent hospitalization or surgery,
and most of these do not occur until after discharge.
But there is good news.
About 70% of these are preventable,
and our center is working to make this happen.
But we can't stop here.
One in five Americans lives with a disability.
And our data show that 44% of people with disabilities
report fair or poor health status.
In stark contrast, only 10% of people
without disabilities report fair or poor health status.
Our data and expertise drive action
that closes the gap in health disparities,
leading to people with disabilities
who live full lives,
and work and play in their communities.
We can't stop here.
At the National Center on Birth Defects
and Developmental Disablities
we protect those who are most vulnerable,
like babies, children,
and people with blood disorders and disabilities.
We improve the health of millions of people every day.
By using our data to drive education and change
we can and will do more.
But we can't do it without you.