Blogs - Capa

New Report Highlights Impact of Drug Shortages on People Living with Arthritis Across Canada

Ottawa, ON — March 25, 2026 — As global pharmaceutical supply chains face growing pressure from geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and evolving industrial policies, a new report from the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA) highlights how these systemic...

Are Patient Perspectives Heard Yet? Personal Reflections over 20 Years

By: Dawn Richards As I step back from my role in CAPA’s leadership team, I wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned and thought about a great deal over the last few years. My experiences in the arthritis community began in late 2006 with my diagnosis of...

2026 New Year’s Message from the CAPA President

January 2026 President’s MessageHappy New Year! It continues to astound me how quickly a year goes by. It seems like yesterday that I was writing 2025’s New Year’s message. New Brunswick is welcoming 2026 with a snowstorm which they say will be followed by a...

What is Makers Making Change

By: Shanelle Gilman Makers Making Change, a program of the Canadian non-profit Neil Squire, connects people with disabilities, like arthritis, to a community of volunteer makers who can build affordable, open-source assistive devices. The platform serves as an online...

Today is a good day!

By: Samantha Holmes Today is a good day. I wake up ready—not too tired, not too sore yet. I've been slacking lately, so I start strong: laundry, dishes, vacuuming. It's only noon. Still plenty of time. I decide to pick up groceries for dinner. My partner has been...

What helps and hinders my work as an occupational therapist (OT)

By: Bella Cairns I am an occupational therapist (OT) working in Ontario. I have had the opportunity to work alongside individuals living with arthritis in an outpatient hand therapy and inpatient mental health setting. Although I don’t live with arthritis myself, I...

Bringing designers into healthcare: Meet Olivia Pasian, Ontario College of Art and Design Practicum Student

By: Olivia Pasian Hello CAPA community! I’m Olivia Pasian, a Digital Futures MDes graduate student at OCAD University. I am a Graphic and Web Designer with a research focus on the future of socialization in the digital age. I graduated with a BDes in Graphic Design...

How Occupational Therapy Helped Me Live Better with Arthritis

By: Kelly-Maude Amaral Living with arthritis means learning to juggle the pain, fatigue and the unpredictability of everyday life. Over time, I discovered that occupational therapy could become a real ally. This discipline allowed me to regain a form of autonomy, to...

Supporting Canadians with Chronic Illness: How the Reducing Poverty Initiative Is Changing Lives

By: Bill Dyer, Director of Reducing Poverty Initiative Living with a chronic condition like arthritis can affect every aspect of life — from daily mobility to long-term financial security. For many Canadians, a health setback can mean months off work without benefits,...

The Role of an Occupational Therapist (OT) to Support People Living with Arthritis

By: Bella Cairns What is an Occupational Therapist (OT)? An OT is a healthcare professional who helps support individuals to participate in their everyday activities. Though many may think OT’s only focus on supporting people at work, OTs can help people do all the...

CAPA blogs