Although May is recognized as Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month, many cities, states, and Congress have yet to acknowledge it.
You can get your state and city to recognize Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month (every year in May) by applying for a state proclamation.
To get started, use the form on this page to contact your city or state and request a proclamation.
(Please send a photo of yourself with the proclamation to advocacy@spondylitis.org so that we can share your success with others. )
For people to understand and fund spondylitis research, they must first know about spondylitis.
Advocating for a state proclamation helps raise awareness, secure funding, and advance research for those living with spondylitis.
Your voice can create meaningful change.
Here are some things to remember:
- Approval of a proclamation can take several weeks or months. Send the request well in advance of the requested dates.
- If you have a relationship with a state or city legislature, ask them for assistance and support. Otherwise, contact your local representative in the form on this page.
- The process is likely to include a letter of request from you and a form to complete.
- You may be asked to supply language for the proclamation. You can send the suggested language (in the form on this page) directly to your state representative. You are welcome to copy and paste the wording of a letter to your city representative.
- Find out the procedure for picking up the proclamation. You may be able to have it presented to you, which is a good opportunity to contact your local news media to cover it.
- Be sure to thank the official who sponsored the proclamation.
- Share photos of the proclamation with your community and with SAA.
- Remember to copy and paste the wording in your letter to request your city to proclaim May as 'Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month'.
Thank you for raising awareness!