ACAP:  The voice of arthritis

When I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 16 years ago, it was all I could do to get through a day. I felt alone and helpless in my battle against a disease that stole my physical function and identity as a former Olympic-calibre athlete. Sixteen years later, I am one of thousands of people working and volunteering together as part of the Alliance for the Canadian Arthritis Program (“ACAP”) – the voice of arthritis .

Formed in 2003, the ACAP is a network that brings together arthritis organizations – small and large, alike – in the spirit of partnership, equality, transparency, accountability, commitment and trust. It’s mission is to improve the lives of Canadians with arthritis by working together to increase arthritis research efforts, prevent arthritis, improve access to care and treatment, and increase educational activities to the arthritis community, the public, and health policy makers.

More than 30 organizations make up the ACAP, including the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Arthritis Consumer Experts, Patient Partners in Arthritis, the Canadian Arthritis Network and their Consumer Advisory Council, the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and their Consumer Advisory Board, The Arthritis Society of Canada, the Canadian Rheumatology Association, the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, among many others. While each group continues its own work, the ACAP provides a central focus and voice for arthritis-related initiatives across the country .

Along with bringing together the breadth of experience and expertise in arthritis – including people living with the disease –the key strength of the ACAP is that for the first time in history, the arthritis community is speaking with one voice to federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Since forming, the ACAP has successfully led three initiatives. The first two initiatives focused on research in the areas of osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis Consensus Conference) and inflammatory arthritis (Frontiers in Inflammatory Joint Disease) . The third and most recent initiative focused on working with governments to set national standards in the areas of arthritis prevention and care (Summit on Standards for Arthritis Prevention and Care) . I encourage you to click on the above links to learn more about the results of ACAP’s leadership efforts.

It is important to note that each of the three ACAP initiatives was led from the planning, execution and implementation stages by Canadians with arthritis and consumer groups and organizations that participate as ACAP members. The “person with arthritis” focus is perhaps the ACAP’s greatest strength as it ensures that its work addresses the immediate and future needs of the 4 million Canadians living with the disease. As a person leading an ACAP member organization, I am very optimistic around what can be accomplished speaking with one voice in arthritis.

Cheryl Koehn is President, Arthritis Consumer Experts and a person with rheumatoid arthritis