Georgia Epilepsy Awareness Day

Director of Spiritual Life at Emmanuel College, Chris Maxwell, will be in Atlanta this Thursday and Friday to participate in the Georgia Epilepsy Awareness Day. He joins a team of advocates who hope the state of Georgia continues to allow patients with epilepsy to follow their doctor's orders regarding the seizure medication that works best for them. Pray God allows his time there to bring hope to patients and their families, and to also protect them from missing out on the appropriate medications.

Georgia Epilepsy Awareness Day Advocacy Training Dinner - Thursday, February 8, 2007

GEORGIA EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY 2007 ADVOCACY
TRAINING DINNER 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Center Pointe Conference Room

Georgia Epilepsy Day at the State Capitol - Friday, February 9, 2007

GEORGIA EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY
Georgia State Capitol
Friday, February 9, 2007 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

• WHAT: Georgia's first Epilepsy Awareness Day at the State Capitol to highlight the Georgia epilepsy population and issues affecting their health & lifestyle!
• WHEN: Friday, February 9, 2007 /  Legislative visits throughout day  /  Press Conference 10:00 a.m.
• WHERE: Georgia State Capitol - we will meet with State Senators & Representatives via scheduled appointments.
• WHY:  To increase epilepsy understanding and knowledge of Georgia lawmakers.  Specific agenda items we are asking                        

Legislative support for are:
1) Patient Protection Bill prohibiting any epilepsy prescription substitutions without direct permission of treating doctor & patient.
2) State funded Epilepsy Job Counseling & Placement Program.

PROPOSAL GEORGIA EPILEPSY JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM

WHAT IS EPILEPSY?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that can affect anyone, at any age, at any time in their life. It affects both men and women, and all racial/ethnic groups.  It is widely recognized in society, and yet it remains poorly understood.  Epilepsy produces sudden surges of electrical energy that causes seizures.  Consequently, it is also known as a seizure disorder. Seizures are, typically brief - lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. Epilepsy is sometimes inherited but there may be no known cause. It is not a mental disease. Head injuries resulting from accidents on bicycles, horses, automobiles, motorcycles and others account for 40% of seizure disorders or epilepsy.  In addition to the physical effects of epilepsy, the social burden of this long-stigmatized condition is still strong. The child or adolescent with epilepsy still faces rejection, isolation and even bullying from peers. In adult life, that social burden is reflected in high unemployment and underemployment as well as reduced social contact, lower marriage rates and a higher incidence of suicide.

EPILEPSY IN GEORGIA
Epilepsy occurs at the rate of 1 in 50 children and 1 in 100 adults. It is becoming more common in adults 65 years and older most often due to strokes and Alzheimer's disease. Epilepsy in early childhood takes an especially heavy toll often leading to developmental delay as well as frequent seizures. In most cases seizures can be controlled through medication(s). However, some of the medications can have major side effects. There have been advancements made in treatment through vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implants. Surgery is an option, usually used as a last resort. There is no cure for epilepsy, and it is a life long disorder. It is estimated that as many as 2.5 million Americans of all ages are affected by Epilepsy and seizures at an annual medical cost of $12.5 billion.  In Georgia , Epilepsy affects > 1% its 9.73 million residents which is 4% of the national incidence.

THE PROBLEM
In the United States, people with epilepsy isolated some of their most critical concerns about employment: inability to get and keep a good job, inability to change jobs within a company due to disability, being treated unfairly as a job applicant, and lack of access to training for advancement.  This survey reaffirms the sense of challenge and frustration that many individuals with seizure disorders experience with regard to employment.