• Turn your Coffee into Impact
• What have we been up to?
• Get Involved!
• Useful Resources

Turn your Coffee into Impact

At CAPA, our work is shaped by people living with arthritis and focused on creating practical, real-world supports that people can actually use. Whether it’s trusted information, peer-led programs, or opportunities to have your voice heard, we aim to offer meaningful value at every step. Coffee for CAPA helps sustain that work and keep it accessible to everyone at zero cost to people with arthritis.

If you’ve found value in what we share, Coffee for CAPA is an easy way to give back. Don’t delay – the fundraiser is only open until April 30th!

Don’t like tea or coffee? make a one-time or monthly donation to CAPA on our new fundraising form.

What have we been up to?

New Webinar: Understanding Drug Shortages

Join us on May 13th for Broken Chains: Understanding Drug Shortages and their impact on patients, a policy-focused webinar exploring the real-world effects of medication shortages across Canada. We’ll share insights from CAPA’s latest report and bring together experts to discuss what’s driving shortages, how they affect patients day-to-day, and what needs to change. Register here!

CAPA works to ensure that people living with arthritis have a strong, visible voice in the decisions that affect them. We’ve shared patient perspectives on:

• New co-payments under the Interim Federal Health Program for refugees and immigrants to Canada
• Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) guidance on caregiver and productivity impacts in economic evaluations
• Health Canada’s modernizing clinical trials framework through a collaboration with Clinical Trials Ontario

We are also pleased to see positive CDA recommendations for sarilumab (polymyalgia rheumatica) and obinutuzumab (lupus nephritis). You can also read past policy submissions on the CAPA website.

Missed our February session on navigating healthcare? Watch the full recording or get the highlights in a quick, easy-to-scan infographic.

CAPA is looking forward to participating in several key national meetings this spring.

• Today at the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Meeting, Linda Wilhelm will present two posters: In Their Own Words: Patient Experiences with Patient Support Programs (poster #31) and Hacking Arthritis: Innovation and Adaptation in Daily Life (poster #32).
• Laurie Proulx will also present Integrating Patient Perspectives and Evolving Patient Input in HTA at Canada’s Drug Agency Symposium (April 22).
• At the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) Meeting, Jenny Lorca will present Turning Intent into Action: A Call for Anti-Oppressive Approaches in Pain Research with Asian Populations. Therese Lane will be presenting a poster led by Lucy Kovalova-Woods about Meaningful Patient Engagement in Research.

Get Involved!

As part of our focus on independent living with arthritis, we are looking to speak with people living with arthritis (and caregivers) about how they stay engaged in meaningful activities. This project, in partnership with McMaster OT students, will help create practical, patient-informed resources. Participants receive a $50 honorarium. All responses are confidential. Sign up here.

CAPA is proud to be part of the coalition behind the Arthritis Action Plan, a national effort to improve care, treatment, and support for people living with arthritis.

You can help move this work forward — whether by sharing your story, speaking up, or spreading the word. Take action today!

Researchers with the Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA) program at the Institute for Work & Health are looking to speak with young adults with episodic disabilities (such as juvenile arthritis, IBD, depression, or anxiety) to take part in a study on transitions to work and career development.  Participants will complete three interviews over 24 months and receive $100 per interview. 👉 Learn more and find out how to participate on the IDEA project website.

Useful Resources

Explore our physical activity webinars — including at-home yoga and spring into action — designed to help you move in ways that work for you. 👉 Watch here!

Found it helpful? Share with a friend and subscribe to our newsletter for more.

Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based recommendations developed by experts to help guide treatment decisions for patients. New guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis about tapering disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have recently been released, offering updated direction based on the latest research and best practices. Both publications have engaged patient partners too!

Stay connected with CAPA for the latest resources, events, and opportunities to get involved. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to keep up with what’s new — and feel free to share with others who may benefit.