High School
A Guide to Accommodations: Acceptance, Peer Pressure, and Fear
We’re honoured to share this piece by Kayla Caddy, a young adult living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) who works as a job coach for people on the autism spectrum. Drawing on her lived experience and professional expertise, Kayla shares with us some tips for accepting and advocating for accommodations,…
Tough as Nails: A Father Reflects on his Two Daughters and Childhood Rheumatic Disease
“We’re very proud of our girls for showing the fortitude needed to not let these diseases define them.” Hello families! My name is Mike Wiens, husband to Jesica and father to two girls, Vanessa 24 yrs old, and Sarah 23 yrs old. We’re happy to call Port Moody, BC our…
Honor Student. Elite Athlete. JIA Warrior.
“If you told me a few years ago that I would be pursuing my dream of playing post-secondary volleyball at Dalhousie University, I would have laughed out loud because at the time it seemed near to impossible.” Meet Ella. In April of 2020, I was diagnosed with a rheumatic condition…
JIA My Way: How one teen is taking charge of her arthritis
Is your family beginning to think about the transition from pediatric to adult rheumatology care? We spoke to one teen who talks about her diagnosis with rheumatic disease at age 14, and how she’s been taking control of her condition two years later. This is a powerful read that offers…
Diagnosed. By Trish Peters
Trish is an inspiring community leader and one who has already accomplished so much in her young life. Having completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, she is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in the Netherlands, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to her education and personal growth. Trish’s unique life experiences have…
5 Helpful tips for attending high school with arthritis
Middle school and high school can take some time for everyone to get used to, especially if you are a student with arthritis. Larger schools with multiple classrooms, more teachers and classmates, and a heavy backpack full of textbooks, can make it a challenging environment to communicate with others about…
School Toolkit: Gym class with JIA
For many children with JIA or other rheumatic diseases, physical challenges at school can be huge barriers, particularly when it comes to gym class. In a recent study, researchers found that 38% of kids with JIA were unable to participate in gym with their peers. Paired with misunderstanding and lack of…