...The neurofibromatoses (NF) are genetic disorders of the nervous system. At this time two distinct forms are known: NF1 and NF2. One baby in every four thousand is born in the United States with NF1. It is one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting some one hundred thousand americans. NF2 is less common and occurs in only one and every forty thousand births. In both forms of NF severity of symptoms vary greatly. The effects can be severely disabling, mildly disfiguring or can even go undetected. Several other names for this disorder have been used in the past but recent advancements in understanding the disorder made some of those terms obsolete. NF1 was previously known as peripheral neurofibromatosis, or von Recklinghouasen’s disease after the doctor who first described it in 1882. NF2 was called bilateral acoustic nuerofibromatosis, central neurofibromatosis, or vestibular schwannoma. NF is found in every racial and ethnic group throughout the world and affects both sexes equally. Both neurofibromatosis1 and neurofibromitosis2 are caused by abnormal genes. This disease cannot be "caught" from someone who has it already. . A common early sign of NF1 is six or more tan spots on the skin. They are called "cafe-au-lait" (French for "coffee with milk") spots. These spots are often present at birth, and may increase in size and number with age. They also may become darker. More than half of affected children have some signs ...
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...The designer uses his skills to help people with a rare genetic disorder. Andrew has partnered with NF Mid-Atlantic to support people with Neurofibromatosis (NF). The designer was challenged by Bernard Canniffe, a professor at Maryland College of Art (MICA), to develop a project that would involve the local community. Shea was a teaching assistant to the professor and had a special appreciation for the tradition in MICA where graphic students were required to partner and work with underfunded and underserved communities. The challenge was to create a familiarization campaign about NF, a disease that causes tumors to grow on nerve endings. Shea - together with the students - developed bean bag toys to teach kids about the tumors, set up an interactive website, came up with a 16-page tabloid newspaper and developed a new logo for the NF Mid-Atlantic. Upon presenting the project to national awareness body, NF Mid-Atlantic it was rejected. The grounds for rejection was the fact that the project was too broad and Shea failed to maintain constant touch with NF Mid-Atlantic. The mistakes were a great learning experience for Shea who did not give up on his hope of creating awareness about the...
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