Report on Education

An important part of the Foundation’s mission is advancing public education about epilepsy and promoting dignity, respect and acceptance of people with epilepsy.

Public education outreach initiatives undertaken by the Foundation in 2005 included the first of two Empowerment Forums in front of a live audience with a web simulcast. This event featured a panel discussion with consumers and health professionals on ways to enhance the healthcare partnership between epilepsy patients and doctors.

As part of an ongoing effort to address issues affecting women and epilepsy, a Women’s Health Forum took place in New York City in 2005. National women's health organizations, including the American Medical Women’s Association, Society for Women's Health Research and NINDS attended. This event focused on the effects of anticonvulsants on women of child-bearing age, as well as issues and concerns related to pregnancy, mood disorders and cognition.

CDC/HRSA Partnerships and Programs

The Foundation partnered with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration on several important public health education and community outreach programs. The Foundation expanded its Hispanic outreach program with the implementation of a Hispanic Council. The council will provide strategic oversight and leadership for the Foundation’s efforts to reach a broader audience and develop public health education programs for Hispanic communities. Council members include nationally recognized Hispanic business leaders, epilepsy specialists working in communities around the country, consumers and representatives from Hispanic media.

Outreach to the African American community generated significant media coverage in 2005, garnering 34.4 million media impressions in newspapers, TV and radio broadcasts and online. Coverage about African Americans and epilepsy appeared on the BET cable network show 106th & Park, as well as on the CBS Early Show and NBC's Today Show. The Foundation partnered with the Urban Beauty Collective, a nationwide network of more than 10,000 urban beauty salons and barbershops, as well as numerous faith-based organizations to bolster African American outreach efforts. And, NYPD Blue and The Jamie Foxx Show star Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon used her celebrity to draw attention to epilepsy-related issues affecting African Americans, by serving as the Foundation's celebrity spokesperson.

Mood Disorder Initiative

Mood disorders like depression are an emerging issue among people with epilepsy. To encourage further study and treatment of mood disorders, the Foundation launched an initiative in 2005 that includes a series of educational fact sheets targeted at consumers and health care professionals. The fact sheets cover the importance, recognition, and treatment of mood disorders; and recommendations on seeking help.

Employer Awareness Training

The Foundation also worked in 2005 to develop an employer education and awareness guide to promote the hiring of people with epilepsy. The initiative is in response to President Bush’s New Freedom Act. The Foundation’s awareness guide promotes the benefits of employing individuals with epilepsy and covers topics including the nature of epilepsy, its successful treatment, workplace accommodations and vocational rehabilitation.

Epilepsy and Cognition

Foundation affiliates throughout the country now utilize a newly-developed standardized Epilepsy & Cognition curriculum to educate consumers and health care professionals. The curriculum addresses specific issues including cognition and epilepsy; cognition and children; education; mood and behavior in children with epilepsy; mood, memory and stigma; neuropsychological testing and vocational training concerns.

Other Educational Initiatives

In 2005, the Foundation completed its three-year Diversity Action Plan. Because epilepsy can affect anyone of any background, the plan enables Foundation and affiliate staff at every level to reach out to all people affected by epilepsy. A national Diversity Training took place in January and it was attended by nearly all the Foundation's affiliates. In addition, the Foundation produced a Diversity Tool Box Kit, developed in conjunction with Diversity Training Group, Inc., based on the needs of the national and affiliate offices. The kit, which was distributed to all affiliates, identifies the components of successful diversity models, and best practices that build the Foundation's capacity to serve diverse communities.

The Foundation's publication EpilepsyUSA, a bimonthly magazine for people with epilepsy and their families, continued to gain subscribers in 2005. It now reaches close to 30,000 people in the United States, as well as several thousand more around the world.

More than 11 million people visited the Epilepsy Foundation's website in 2005 to find information about seizures, treatment options, research and the services provided by the Foundation through local affiliates across the country.

The Answer Place online and the Answer Place toll-free Information & Referral Service provided consumers with a reliable resource to find information about epilepsy, seizure types, medications, treatments, programs, services and research.