MARCH is Juvenile Arthritis Month. Now I imagine that many of you think I got this wrong, arthritis is a disease for old folks, or at least adults. But that is not the case.
In Canada, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common chronic disabling diseases of childhood, afflicting an estimated 10,000 Canadian children - more than juvenile diabetes.
These kids need tools to help them get on with their daily lives and backpacks are common for all school-aged kids. So, based on a successful program run by the Arthritis Foundation in the United States, and building on a similar program the Arthritis Society has run in the Atlantic provinces, the Arthritis Society will be providing backpacks to children aged 10 and under who have been newly diagnosed with JIA.
The backpack was selected based on the recommended guidelines of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation, and has been reviewed by a registered physiotherapist and an occupational therapist from the Arthritis Society Arthritis Rehabilitation and Education Program (AREP).
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can pose serious challenges for children in their day-to-day lives. The Arthritis Society wants to hand back childhood, and let kids with arthritis enjoy being kids.
With some lifestyle adjustments and effective coping strategies, a JIA diagnosis doesn't have to mean giving up on living a life that is both full and fulfilling.
The backpack is one example of a simple coping strategy that can make a big difference in your child's life.
Going to school is such an important part of being a kid: a proper backpack can make it easier and more comfortable, so that your child can enjoy a happier, healthier school experience.
ABOUT THE BACKPACK
The backpack and its contents have been selected based on the recommendations of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation, and reviewed by paediatric rheumatologists, registered physiotherapists and occupational therapists to ensure that they are appropriate for children with JIA.
The backpack has broad straps, back padding and waist support in order to minimize the strain on your child's vulnerable joints.
A video has also been produced with the assistance of a registered physiotherapist to help instruct parents of children with JIA about how to select, fit, pack and safely wear their backpack.
The video will be available on the society's YouTube channel, and a digital copy will be provided in each backpack.
Inside the backpack there will be resources to help a child live well with arthritis:
. Warm Buddy Baby Beary - a plush bear with a removable warming and cooling pack. This made-in-Canada product is considered a medical device, and has been reviewed by Health Canada for safety and appropriateness.
. GrrrOuch! Pain is Like a Grouchy Bear - an award-winning book by Cathryn Morgan and illustrated by Crystal Beshara, both of Ottawa. This charming book was written for children 10 and under, and helps them come to terms with chronic pain.
. USB card - a video has been produced to help you and your child understand how to fit, pack and safely wear their backpack. The video is on a USB card that you can connect to any computer for easy viewing.
. Your Child and Arthritis, a resource for families of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, developed jointly by the Arthritis Society with the paediatric section of the Canadian Rheumatology Association.
. I am Brave: Children Living with Arthritis - an illustrated booklet from children living with arthritis about their lives including day-to-day experiences, emotional impacts and what it is like when they are unwell.
. Pencil grips suitable for making different writing tools more comfortable to use.
. Zipper pulls that can be added to zippers to make them easier to open and close.
These resources will offer some help and comfort to children and help families learn how to best aid and support their children
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
