Working and Juvenile Arthritis

South Australia has the highest unemployment rate which makes it harder for those living with a hidden condition to gain employment.

I believe I was quite lucky when gaining my first job. I was a member at the gym and had spoken with the manager on a regular basis, but when it came to a second job. It was a whole different story.

I've been through the whole cold canvasing walking around and handing in my resume at every Arthritis friendly work place. Applying online and not getting anywhere. 

When I would finally get invited for an interview I knew I had two choices.

1. Disclose my Juvenile Arthritis.
2 Keep it a secret and not disclose.

Everyone with a disability have this choice and is something that children who live with Juvenile Arthritis may one day have to face.

I choose each time to disclose.

Now you're thinking; well it shouldn't make any difference, but it does and disability discrimination happens. I've had to deal with it all my 22 years of living.

Those people who judge as I park my car in a disabled permit zone or those who wonder why I just walked out of the disabled toilet at a venue. This can be seen as disability discrimination in the community.

We all have choices and a young person living with Juvenile Arthritis doesn't just have to deal with the pain and stiffness of the disease, but the thought of gaining employment one day. 

This is one of the reasons I began my own business in the health and fitness industry and eventually Kids Arthritis Australia. So that employers and employees will understand what Juvenile Arthritis is and how to support someone who lives with it.

Click here for more resources on this topic and feel free to get in contact regarding this as well. This is why Kids Arthritis Australia and I are here, to support children, their families and careers living with Juvenile Arthritis. 

What is hard?

People think not having their morning coffee makes everything hard.
People also think having to catch the bus or train to work is hard too, but do you really know what is hard?
Having a disease that no one knows about.

When I say this it isn't because I don't think these things are hard as well, they just are particularity harder for me to do than everyone else. Well except the morning coffee part, I have pain killers for that.

People often ask me what the hardest part of having a hidden disease that impacts my life so much is?

I used to have to think about the answer but now since creating Kids Arthritis an organisation to support children and their families with Arthritis, my answer has now changed.

No brownie points for guessing what it might be now though.

Support

Everyday is just made harder by knowing the fact that I don't know anyone who suffers as badly as me who is also my age. All I want is for the children of this generation suffering with Arthritis to feel supported. We all need support in one way or another. Whether it be through death, break up or unwell times, everyone needs support but these amazing children especially.

I have made it my life goal to support these children and their families so they too can live a more pain free and happy life with fellow Arthritis suffers around them.

Until next time,

Just keep smiling, as you never know who's day you'll brighten.

The first time is always the hardest..

Hi Everyone,

"I am new to this type of thing and have spent a huge chunk of my life keeping everything that happens to me locked away inside with only a select few being allowed in."

When I read this above sentence on a new blog I think the person may have been through hard times experiencing depression or anxiety, but as I write that statement it is because of something that you may have never heard of before; that is Juvenile Arthritis.

Now what people don't understand about Arthritis is that it doesn't just affect your grandma or grandpa, in fact your newly born bundle of joy can get the crippling disease too.
This is me, one of the estimated 8,000 children in Australia with Arthritis.

So many people over my life have suggested writing a book or keeping a diary as what I have to deal with and experience everyday is unique and interesting in ways you can only start to imagine.
 I did neither, but the book may happen one day.

I have spent so long of my life just thinking that "no one will care", "no one will ever want to read my blog and listen to what I have to say" (well you're reading it now so thank you) and this is how so many other young people with Arthritis think.
This is due to lack of awareness that Kids Get Arthritis which then leads to lack of support that then leads to bullying when a child tries to speak up and you get the drift.

This is what I am changing.

If you want to know more and just can't wait until next week, you can get a head start and learn more about Arthritis in Children and the work I am doing with my own organisation, Kids Arthritis here: www.kidsarthritis.org

Until next week,

Just keep smiling, as you never know who's day you'll brighten.