Episode 85: Elevator Pitches to Explain AiArthritis Diseases

Have you found yourself struggling to explain your AiArthritis disease to others?    In this episode, our co-hosts Leila, Charis, and Patrice put a new topic on the table: how to explain your AiArthritis disease in a 30-60 second elevator pitch. From your workplace to your personal life, our co-hosts will provide practical tips on how to tailor your elevator pitch to different audiences such as co-workers, family, friends or strangers to help you confidently communicate your AiArthritis and advocate for yourself. Join us in this episode to listen to varying elevator pitches as well as have the opportunity to share your own and continue to help us build patient resources!    Share your AiArthritis disease elevator pitch here! [email protected] Subject: Elevator Pitch Episode Highlights:  What is an AiArthritis disease elevator pitch? Leila, Charis, and Patrice share their own elevator pitches for their varying AiArthritis diseases  Learn how to tailor your own 30-60 second elevator pitch to help explain your disease to others and advocate for your needs.  Why an elevator pitch is important for anyone living with an AiArthritis disease  Importance of creating varying elevator pitches for different audiences such as your work, family, friends, or even strangers Understand how to handle workplace conversations regarding your AiArthritis disease and what accommodations you need  How you can use humor to help describe your diseases  Our Co-Hosts:   Leila is the Health Education and Engagement Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus Nephritis and Sjögren’s Syndrome. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them. Leila is on social media as @LupusLifestyle.Lei sharing bits and pieces about her life with lupus and connecting with others. Connect with her on Instagram or TikTok. Connect with Leila:     Instagram: @lupuslifestyle.lei      LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leila-lagandaon       Facebook: @leilaaiarthritis      YouTube: LupusLifestyle.Lei      TikTok: @lupuslifestyle.lei   Charis Hill, who uses they/them pronouns, is a disability activist, writer, speaker and model living with many conditions including Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Charis’ multi-tiered work uses narrative engagement to advance social justice for multiply-marginalized disabled people. Charis’ story is regularly featured internationally in media outlets and in the documentary: "Becoming Incurable." In addition to Charis' leadership on patient advocacy organization committees and regular speaking engagements about health and disability, they boast bylines in HealthCentral, Healthline, and Business Insider; including cover stories for Arthritis Today and Spondylitis Plus magazine; and they have been awarded by the Arthritis Foundation and Spondylitis Association of America for their work on legislative advocacy for state and federal policy efforts.   Connect with Charis: Twitter: @beingcharisblog  Tikok : @beingcharisblog Facebook: @beingcharisblog Patrice was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Patrice has been in remission off and on during these last 11 years. Patrice also has had several comorbidities: severe hearing loss which resulted in her now wearing hearing aids, a Baker's Cyst, a vein ablation, plantar fasciitis, pseudo gout, and she also has osteopenia. Patrice has been a volunteer with AiArthritis for over 2 years and has been co-host and a host for the podcast several times. Patrice went to EULAR virtually with AiArthritis in 2020 and 2021 and attended the virtual ACR conference in 2021 with AiArthritis. Connect with Patrice: Facebook : @PatriceJohnson   Donate to Support the Show: https://www.aiarthritis.org/donate    Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   AiArthritis Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at www.aiarthritis.org/talkshow. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook (@IFAiArthritis) or email us ([email protected]).  Be sure to check out our top-rated show on Feedspot!