When SAA was founded in 1983, there was no support network, no educational materials geared to spondylitis patients, not even a single pamphlet for people affected by spondylitis, a group of related rheumatic diseases that primarily affect the spine and other joints. Nearly 2.7 million Americans are living with the disease. SAA was the first and remains the largest resource in the U.S. for people seeking information on spondylitis. Our focus is on research, patient advocacy, education and support, as well as raising awareness about this group of diseases. Our mission at the Spondylitis Association of America is to be a leader in the quest to cure Ankylosing Spondylitis and related diseases, and to empower those affected to live life to the fullest. There are more than 100 types of arthritis. For more than 35 years, SAA has focused on just one - yours. So that no one has to face spondylitis alone.