Raising awareness

Around 1 in every 1,000 children is diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). This means that around 20 families in the UK are told each week that their child has this chronic autoimmune condition. We know that early intervention changes lives.

Sadly, delays in diagnosis are common due to a lack of awareness.

We work to raise awareness of JIA – both amongst the public and with health professionals. Greater awareness leads to faster diagnosis and treatment. In turn, this leads to be better outcomes for children with JIA.

As we increase awareness of the condition, we can help make life better for children with JIA by removing the stigma attached to having a long-term but often invisible health condition.

We raise awareness through regular media releases, events and activities. We have also developed the #ThinkJIA campaign and resources, available from www.thinkjia.org for use with parents, schools and health professionals.

Get involved!

You can get involved and help us raise awareness that children and young people get arthritis in a number of ways:

• Ask your nursery, school or college to request their free School Toolkit to raise awareness and support children and young people with JIA.

• See and share our WORD Day resources.

• Download, print and share our downloadable resources.

• Read and share our case studies about children and young people with JIA.

• Raise funds to support our work by hosting a fundraising event - find out more with our fundraising pack.

• Download and share our booklet My JIA with family, friends, colleagues and schools. My JIA is a booklet that explains what life with JIA is like, and how schools and families can support children with JIA.

• Visit the JAR Shop and buy something to help raise awareness in your everyday life.