March Is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month
Did you know? March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month! This has been a month filled with exciting opportunities to increase awareness of autoimmune diseases among the general public and patients as well. If you’ve missed some of this month’s festivities, here’s a recap!
Congressional Briefing on the Cost of Autoimmune Diseases (March 22)
Autoimmune diseases are a burden to patients and their families not only due to the physical difficulties caused by autoimmune disease but also the financial and personal cost faced by patients. In honor of awareness month, AARDA partnered with the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups (NCAPG), which is comprised of 29 single autoimmune disease advocacy organizations, to bring this topic to members of the United States Congress and their legislative staffs.
Speaking at the event were some of the top names in autoimmune research and advocacy, including Dr.
Denise Faustman who serves as the Director of Immunobiology at Massachusetts General Hospital East and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Faustman gave a wonderful overview of autoimmunity, whom it affects, risk factors, etc. Additionally, other speakers included Dr. Patience H. White, Vice President of Public Health at the Arthritis Foundation, who spoke on the key issue of “The Financial Burden of Autoimmune Diseases to Your Constituents and the Health Care System.”
Also presenting was a fantastic advocate from the National Psoriasis Foundation, Robert Udowitz, who wrapped up the meeting on recommendations for further research, opportunities for awareness, and better coordination of care for patients. Last, AARDA brought with us a very special guest to speak at the event, longtime volunteer and friend to AARDA, Donna DiSante, a rheumatoid arthritis patient (RA) who told her story of living with RA and the financial and personal toll that it’s had on her life. 
A white paper titled “The Cost Burden of Autoimmune Disease: The Latest Front in the War on Healthcare Spending” was published and distributed to congressional staff members attending the meeting. Read the white paper here: http://www.aarda.org/pdf/cbad.pdf
Public Forum with NYU
More than 300 autoimmune patients and their families and friends attended AARDA’s March 26 public forum in partnership with NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases.
The program included displays and exhibits from single disease autoimmune disease advocacy groups from across New York. These include American Behçet’s Disease Association, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Greater New York, Inc., National Multiple Sclerosis Society (New York City-Southern New York Chapter), and the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation.
Patients enjoyed the opportunity to obtain
new information from this variety of groups and meet patients with various autoimmune diseases. The program itself included a who’s who among autoimmune disease researchers and advocates such as Dr. Steven B. Abramson, Professor and Director of the Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Joint Diseases; and Rita Baron-Faust, author of “The Autoimmune Connection,” as well as a supporting cast of other wonderful presenters.
See the full list of speakers here: http://www.aarda.org/user_content/NYCPublicForum.php
Keeping Awareness a Priority This March and Beyond
Today is the last day of March, the last day of this entire month dedicated to increasing awareness and education of autoimmune diseases, the patients these diseases affect, and what the public needs to know about autoimmunity. However, the end of March doesn’t mark the end of autoimmune awareness. A 24/7 mission of AARDA is awareness, and we invite you to continue this mission of awareness all year long. The theme of this year’s campaign was “We Are 50 Million.” With your help, we will continue to tell the stories of patients from around the country who make up the 50 million; and we will continue touring the country with our “What Every American Needs to Know About Autoimmune Disease,” public forums with upcoming stops in Birmingham, AL (May 11), Raleigh, NC (June 11), Chicago, IL (Oct 11), and possibly more.
What can you do to help? The resources to continue 24/7 awareness and education are possible only because of your generous donations and support. Donate to AARDA today. We truly are 50 million strong. Imagine the impact we could make together if everyone donated even $5. Be a part of the solution and help AARDA to continue this important work.
Donate Online: https://aarda.org/contribute.php
Text $5: Use your cell phone to donate $5 by texting the keyword A-A-R-D-A to short code 20222. Remember to respond to the confirmation text with YES! You can also Text $5 online by entering your cell phone number by clicking here: http://www.aarda.org/serendipity/index.php?/archives/32-Donate-5-Instantly-for-Autoimmune-Disease-Research,-Awareness,-and-Education.html
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