Tag Archives: Arthritis Foundation JA Conference

2018 juvenile arthritis conference

From Washington State to Washington DC, the 2018 National Juvenile Arthritis Conference Welcomed Over 1,800 Participants

Each summer as school lets out and the weather starts to get warmer, there’s an excitement in the air felt all the way from Long Beach, California to the shores of Long Island, New York. There are always good reasons to be excited for some time off, but for many children, teens, young adults and their families affected by juvenile arthritis and related rheumatic diseases – the Arthritis Foundation’s National Juvenile Arthritis Conference has become the summer event to look forward to.

Over two long weekends in late June and early August, more than 1,800 attendees made their way to Seattle, Washington and Washington, DC to take part the 2018 JA Conference. As done in previous years, the Arthritis Foundation hosted two JA Conference locations to serve even more kids, families and young adults affected by childhood rheumatic diseases across the country, while also welcoming home returning veteran families.

In both cities, more than half of conference participants were first time attendees to the JA Conference, experiencing everything the four-day conference had to offer. Kids and teens were treated to their own specialized programming including peer-led activities, educational sessions and fun social happenings. At the same time, parents choose their own breakout sessions throughout the day – from disease-specific sessions hosted by top doctors and health care experts to topics such as educational rights in schools and transitioning from adolescent to adult medicine. This year, we also live-streamed two of our most popular sessions for those that were not able to join us in person.

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2016 Juvenile Arthritis Conference Theme

Get Ready for the 2016 National Juvenile Arthritis Conferences!

On two long weekends in July and August, families will descend on the desert in Phoenix, Arizona and the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the 2016 National Juvenile Arthritis Conferences. The JA Conference is an unforgettable annual family event, where more than 2,000 kids, teens, young adults, siblings, parents and caretakers come together to meet, learn and play.

Stay Connected!

Visit and bookmark our Things You Should Know page, where information about the JA Conference will be updated!

Learn more and sign up for the inaugural Parent Buddy Program, where families that are new to the conference will be paired up with veteran families.

  • Get in the spirit by participating in Conference Theme days! Learn more about what to pack to represent your home state and Walk to Cure Arthritis or Jingle Bell Run team!
  • Save time on Opening Night by filling out consent forms for your children or teens.

How Are You Stronger Than Juvenile Arthritis?

Tell us how you, your child and/or your family is Stronger than Arthritis! Use this link to print, write, take a picture or selfie and send it in to let us know!

Join the #StrongerThanJA Conversation

Highlights of the 2015 Juvenile Arthritis Conference

Check out some of the great moments from last year’s JA Conference below!

JA Conference Sponsors