Disability & Discrimination
Stigma surrounding epilepsy continues to fuel discrimination and isolates people with epilepsy from mainstream life. Despite great progress in recent years, epilepsy remains a formidable barrier to educational opportunities, employment, and personal fulfillment among older children and adults.
Rights of People with Epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation promotes civil rights laws that ensure protections for people with epilepsy, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the ADA Amendments Act of 2008; the Family Medical Leave Act; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Workforce Investment Act.
Restraint and Seclusion
The Epilepsy Foundation opposes the use of restraints and seclusion for children in school and educates teachers about the dangers of using restraints, seclusion, and other forms of abuse against people with epilepsy.
Civil Rights and Education
The Epilepsy Foundation monitors policies that impact the rights of students living with epilepsy, like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Employment and Epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation supports policies that ensure reasonable accommodations by employers, including family and medical leave and medical inquiries by employers; and issues related to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
