TOP FIVE TIPS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL SUCCESS WITH JUVENILE ARTHRITIS Back-to-school can be exciting—but for families and youth living with juvenile arthritis (JA) and other rheumatic diseases, it can also feel overwhelming. Between medical care, school prep, and new routines, there’s a lot to juggle. At Cassie + Friends, we’re [...]
We're back for part 2! Cassie + Friends' youth mentors are back with another workshop for students, this time about how to write effective scholarship and bursary applications! Led by youth mentor, Ciara Mahaffy (who secured $85,000+ in scholarships!) and other scholarship recipients, this session will teach you how to: Use storytelling, tone, and [...]
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 [...]
9 Tips for Homeschooling Your Child with JIA One of the many impacts of COVID was a surge in homeschooling, not just during the pandemic but well after. This back-to-school season, we’re pleased to share some tips from JIA parent, Kathleen Bailey, who has homeschooled her children for many years and has a [...]
Feeling nervous for your child's first/next year at school, especially when it comes to supporting their health needs? What about gym class or sports? Wondering how to manage the transition into older grades or even post-secondary? Looking for tips from experienced parents/caregivers? We've got you covered! On August 22nd, you're invited to tap into [...]
Meet Lily. One morning, at the young age of 2, our daughter Lily woke up limping and her left knee looked slightly swollen. She didn't seem to show that she was in pain, but was refraining from putting weight on her left leg. We had no idea what happened and didn't recall any [...]
Last month, Cassie and Friends' Juvenile Arthritis at School Puppet Show hit the road to bring juvenile arthritis education to the Okanagan! The special puppet show, which was offered free-of-charge to schools by Cassie and Friends with support from a $10,000 grant from the Telus Friendly Futures Foundation, tells the story of Cassie - a [...]
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 knowledge on the [...]
For those of us who live each day affected by juvenile arthritis or another rheumatic disease, it can often feel like there is no one who can understand what we are going through. Although this can feel isolating, when we share our juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic disease stories with one another they show [...]
We are excited to announce that our longtime "Champion for Kids" partner, Mardon Insurance, now part of Westland Insurance Group has donated an incredible $10,000 to Team Cassie and Friends in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This generous donation will go directly towards transforming the lives of kids and families affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic [...]
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