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 your arthritis pain and accommodations. To help guide you to success at school, we reached out to Senya Kyle-Oldrieve, a recent high school graduate living with arthritis, to share her best advice for teens going back to school.

My name is Senya Kyle-Oldrieve, and I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis when I was 2. My arthritis once affected more than 40 of my joints. It now only affects my wrists and ankles. I have been on many different biologics throughout my childhood, but tocilizumab (my current drug) stuck around! Arthritis can definitely bring many challenges for kids, especially at school. Since I’m a recent high school graduate, I can give you all of the tips and tricks I’ve learned!

This is especially important for high school students, as you most likely will have many different teachers. Letting your teachers know about your disease may seem unnecessary or even uncomfortable. But, I’m telling you, it will make a difference! It’s especially important to tell your teachers if you miss school due to hospital appointments or sore joints. Telling my teachers not only made it more manageable when I missed school, but they also gave me extra time to do assignments if needed.

2. Talk to your school’s counsellor

The school counsellors are there for a reason! From the beginning of high school, I let my counsellor know about my JIA and the obstacles I face with that disease. Having someone at the school that can advocate for you is very helpful, especially if a problem occurs. Your counsellor can provide resources; they can help you create an IEP (Individual Education Plan), be a reference for scholarships and universities; and they can help you in many other ways.

3. Dealing with a flare

Flares look very different for everyone. Some may be minor flares that don’t affect you as much, or some may be very intense flares that leave you bedridden. Either way, flaring can clearly affect school. I hadn’t had much experience (that I can remember) with a flare until I was in grade 10. It was so bad I missed 3 months of school. Obviously, that affected my schoolwork, but I was able to catch up with my teachers’ and friends’ help. It’s okay to ask for help! This flare would have been much more challenging to deal with if I hadn’t talked to my teachers and counsellor previously about my disease. Because I had done that, it was easier for me to ask for some accommodations around my schoolwork. While you’re flaring, your main priority should be to try to get better and not worry too much about school.

4. Telling your Friends

Arthritis can affect your relationships in many ways. It can be difficult for your friends to understand what’s going on in your life, which can be frustrating. If you want to talk about it, open up to your friends! That way, your friends know you’re comfortable talking about your arthritis. Also, it’s okay to have friends that you talk about your arthritis with and some that you don’t; you don’t have to be defined by your disease.

5. Put your Mental Health First

Having a disease that affects you physically can also affect you mentally.

Being a teenager already comes with a lot of stress and pressure. But having to deal with arthritis on top of that can be extremely difficult. Even with an amazing support system, it can still be challenging. It’s common to feel like you have to put a brave face up all the time, which can sometimes make it hard to admit you need help. But there should be no shame in asking for support to work through issues, as it is entirely normal! Talking to a counsellor or therapist can be very beneficial for many reasons, but especially if you are dealing with health issues.

I hope these tips help you in managing your arthritis. Obviously, each person’s circumstances are unique, so we all have to find what works best for us.

Looking to connect with other students with rheumatic disease? Join the conversation via Zoom, or just listen in on Thursday September 24th at our Teen Talks: Back To School event where we will be discussing back to school during COVID-19, friendships/support systems and coping strategies.

Our School Toolkit provides customizable school letters and checklists to make communicating with educators easier for you. At Cassie + Friends, we know that sometimes the very best advice on how to support your child is the insight and experience that comes from sharing with others. If you have questions about attending school with arthritis, or you’d just like to meet other kids and families living with rheumatic disease –  You can  sign up here to join our new online support network, where you can ask other parents about their child’s school experience.