Looking to learn more about Crohn’s and Colitis?  Find information about inflammatory bowel disease, treatments, ADA accommodations, and other resources with these websites:

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation is pretty much the authority on IBD in the United States.  Founded in 1967, they’ve been working to raise money and support IBD research for over 50 years!  You can find an answer to almost any question you might have about the disease here, especially if you’re newly diagnosed.  There’s a tool to search for gastroenterologists in your area, and help and information about the financial aspect of living with IBD.  There is information about how your diet can affect your disease. They have several unique resources to help with dealing with the mental and emotional fallout of the diagnosis.  There’s information for children and teens diagnosed with IBD, as well as their parents.  There are resources for other caregivers as well. Caring for someone suffering with IBD can be incredibly difficult no matter their age.  There is even a page (and an app!) dedicated to helping you navigate finding a restroom on short notice.  Best of all, the C&C Foundation fosters a sense of community among IBD sufferers through support programs, online forums, and their Take Steps fundraiser that brings people together in locations across the country to share in their experience.  Overall, C&C is probably the most all-encompassing resource available for IBDers like me (and probably you, or someone you know).
Check out the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website here!

National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney diseases

This organization, an offshoot of the National Institute of Health, has more technical information about digestive diseases than you’re prepared to see.  There’s a ton of info about Crohn’s and Colitis, but there’s also more information than you can take in in a single sitting about every type of digestive disease from acid reflux to viral gastroenteritis, and everything in between.  This is a great resource if you’re hoping to learn more about the medical aspect of IBD: what it is, what it takes to get diagnosed, treatment options, diets, research trials, etc.  It is more clinical than some other resources, which makes sense since it’s a government agency whose mission is to support medical research and doctors who treat GI diseases.  It’s not a great place to look for community support or to ask questions specific to your experience, but it is a great resource to learn more about gastrointestinal diseases like IBD.
Check out the NIDDK website here!

American College of Gastroenterology

The American College of Gastroenterology has tons of information about Crohn’s and Colitis.  It includes overviews of the disease with information about causes, treatments, and risks associated with IBD.  There are answers to frequently asked questions like, “what are the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s” or “what causes Colitis?” and many more.  There are also videos and podcasts about many aspects of IBD, and living with the disease.  There are downloadable handouts that explain the disease, and links to other resources for those with IBD.  The information is also available in Spanish (en Espanol)!  This is a great resource for those hoping to learn more about the disease, or those newly diagnosed.
Check out the American College of Gastroenterology website here!

Connecting to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis

Connecting to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis is a site created to raise funding to aid in research, support the IBD community, and increase awareness of this disease among the general public.  There’s not a whole lot of information about the disease itself, but the site is a great way to connect with others who have IBD in your community.  There is a tab with links to a 1-on-1 mentoring program for those newly diagnosed.  There is also a search feature to look for support groups in your area.  Their blog publishes stories about people struggling with IBD as well.  It has been very helpful for me to see other people’s stories and to know that I’m not the only one dealing with this. I hope the stories on this site can help you feel seen!
Check out Connecting To Cure Crohn’s and Colitis here!

University of California San Francisco Gastroenterology Department of Medicine

This site includes several videos that help you navigate different aspects of this disease.  There are videos about finding good diet plans, surgeries, transitioning an adolescent to an adult gastroenterology practice, and more.  It isn’t as all-encompassing as many of the other sites in this list, but the videos are informative and may be easier to take in for those who are visual or auditory learners.
Check out the UCSF Gastroenterology Dept website here!