About SpA Awareness Month

May is Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month. Observed annually, Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month is a critical opportunity to raise awareness of the disease within both the medical community and the general public. Through education, support, and advocacy, we can shorten the length of time required for diagnosis and continue the fight to find a cure.  

Spondyloarthritis is not rare, but its prevalence varies in different parts of the world. Within the U.S. alone, roughly 3.2 million Americans or 1.3 % of the adult population lives with spondyloarthritis. In other regions, researchers have estimated that prevalence numbers range from 0.20% in South-East Asian populations to a high of 1.61% in Northern Arctic communities. Getting to a definitive number would require an expensive and major research undertaking. SpA Awareness Month raises visibility of the community, domestically and globally, to encourage much needed focus on delivering better health outcomes and support for people living with the disease.

Emotional Wellness

During SpA Awareness Month, we will continue to raise awareness around the themes of #together and #emotionallness that our partners at ASIF pinned for World AS Day. Connect with us to learn tips and tools for managing the complications of the disease and find support to maintain emotional wellness.

H.Res135 Advocacy Campaign

Did you know that SpA Awareness Month was first championed in 2009 by Michael Smith, an SAA lifetime member, tireless patient advocate, and creator of the beloved Spondyville website? Michael was hugely instrumental in SpA having its own month. But SpA Awareness Month is not recognized as an official National Health Observance. That is why we need your support in our ongoing advocacy campaign for H.Res.135 to encourage Congress to support the designation of May 2021 as Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month.

Join the campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/Spondylitis/campaigns/80983/respond

World AS Day

Saturday, May 8 is World AS Day. World AS Day is observed internationally on the first Saturday of every May, except if the Saturday is  May 1st. Each year, the SAA and advocates from around the world collectively promote awareness of ankylosing spondylitis and mobilize supporters to take action. Please join us in helping everyone within this community know that they are not alone!

Help Raise Awareness