Epilepsy Education Services

Epilepsy education sessions are presented by request to any community organization or school group interested in learning more about epilepsy. Presentations are made to professional groups, organizations/ businesses who employ someone with epilepsy, community groups, school groups including teachers and students, and others. Each session includes discussion of basic facts about epilepsy and how to recognize a seizure, as well as proper techniques for seizure first aid. The specific material included in each presentation will be geared to the age and interests of the audience.

Epilepsy Education Sessions are presented free of charge.

For more information about free Epilepsy Education Sessions, please call the agency at (216) 579-1330.

Youth Epilepsy Education School Programs

The Epilepsy Association provides education about epilepsy, seizure first aid, epilepsy myths and psychosocial issues associated with epilepsy, using handouts and videos as educational aids. The presentation also features discussion and answering questions from the students in attendance. Faculty in-service presentations increase awareness about epilepsy, and help to reduce the stigma associated with the disorder. Students learn valuable seizure first aid skills that will help them respond properly if a seizure occurs, and they learn to be more supportive of other students and/or teachers who have epilepsy. Additionally, students are made aware of the number one risk for seizures in children and teens - head trauma, and provided with information on how to prevent head injury.

The educational program described above can be presented to children from second grade through high school. Younger children learn about epilepsy through a puppet show format using child-sized puppets, with information specifically targeted to their age and level of understanding of epilepsy. In addition to providing basic epilepsy education and seizure first aid, these "Kids on the Block" puppet shows emphasize being supportive and remaining friends with other children who have epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Association's school site programs are underwritten with grants from Kaiser Permanente and the Katherine and Lee Chilcote Foundation.

"Be Smart About Epilepsy"

Support provided by The Mt. Sinai Heathcare Foundation

An informed and sensitive staff is essential for students with epilepsy because of the potential for life -threatening hazards including the physical environment and inappropriate first aid response to seizures. Additionally, the stigma associated with the condition has many detrimental consequences. The Epilepsy Association is the recipient of a grant from the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation for its "Be Smart About Epilepsy" program, providing epilepsy and seizure awareness programs for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's staff, faculty and students beginning in the fall of 2010.