Take the pledge to learn more about arthritis and help set a world record:
https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/pledge-to-learn-the-differences-in-arthritis.html
May 20 marks World Autoimmune Arthritis Day! It’s a great time to learn more about arthritis, including autoimmune arthritis. And there’s no better way to do this than with #WAAD16!
#WAAD16 is hosted by the International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis (IFAA), with resources from 24 nonprofit organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation and National Psoriasis Foundation, both of which have been instrumental to our family in helping us navigate the ups and downs of psoriatic arthritis. This event is a great way to connect patients to autoimmune arthritis information, resources, experts, and other patients from across the world.
The online event takes place May 19-22, 2016, with six different tracks to educate the public and offer support to those with various forms of autoimmune arthritis. The discussion also takes place on the WAAD Facebook and Twitter pages, so be sure to check out #WAAD16 on social media, too.
Even if you’re arriving late to the party – like me who had to work yesterday – there’s still plenty to see and do. And you can even go back and read some of the conversations you’ve missed.
A complete schedule of events can be found here. But here’s just a sampling of the great things you should check out at #WAAD16…
Track 1: Disease Education – Nonprofit resource sharing; honoring those lost due to autoimmune arthritis; and a live chat with Parker Lentini, 2016 Inspirational Juvenile Patient Award recipient. Parker is 16 year olds and was diagnose with systemic-onset juvenile arthritis. Parker is such a cool kid! Congratulations and keep up the great work of spreading awareness and hope!
Track 2: Lifestyle Guidance – Chat and information on diet and autoimmunity
Track 3: Advocacy – Chat and information from WEGO Health Patient Influencer and Network Director Julie Cerrone about why the healthcare industry needs patient influencers. (If you haven’t met Julie, be sure to check this out. She’s a great speaker, and a wonderful blogger.) Also in this track: Take the online pledge to learn more about the different types of arthritis and help set a new Guinness World Record. You can even share your “Get Mad at Arthritis” photo. Pledges count May 19-June 7, 2016.
Track 4: Support and Communication – Teaching your friends how to support you; mental struggles of living with autoimmune arthritis; chat with 2016 Inspirational Patient Award Recipient Kathleen Arnsten, President and CEO of Lupus and Allied Diseases Association; media misrepresentation of autoimmune arthritis; an getting support in the workplace
Track 5: Disease Management – Breakout Tweet Chat based on Spondylitis Association of America’s live Dallas event; and managing pain
Track 6: Research – Live session on patient-centered research from Julie Cerrone, blogger, and Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, CEO of IFAA
Besides the tracks listed above, be sure to check out the lounges to connect live with patients and inspirational guests. And there is so much support and information going on via Facebook and Twitter throughout the entire event.
See you at the race track!
