Epilepsy Foundation Northwest

 

Epilepsy Education and Discussion Groups

Having epilepsy or caring for someone who does can be very challenging. Sometimes the practical problems of daily living - from insurance, to jobs, to medical care - can seem overwhelming. At other times, it helps just to talk to people who understand what its like to live with epilepsy. Education and Discussion Group 

Epilepsy Education and Discussion Groups can be:

  • A forum in which to give and receive information about epilepsy and treatments.
  • A place to talk about the issues that concern you, with people who know where you're coming from.

Epilepsy education and discussion groups are designed to provide peer support, information sharing and discussion of common interests. They may also include presentations by professionals on topics of interest.

Active Groups

 Boy The groups listed here are open to anyone affected by epilepsy unless otherwise noted. "Caregiver" groups address the specific concerns of parents, grandparents, guardians, personal attendants, and others who care for a person with epilepsy.

The epilepsy education and discussion groups are not intended to furnish medical advice or professional psychotherapy.  The Epilepsy Foundation Northwest is not liable for the information presented at meetings not facilitated by EFNW staff.

If there is no group in your area:

The Epilepsy Foundation Northwest welcomes volunteers who would like to begin an epilepsy discussion group in their area for people with epilepsy. For more information please e-mail mail@epilepsynw.org

Active groups

 

Portland Education & Discussion Group
Portland, OR
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
First Wednesday of the month

 

Speaker: Amy Kao, MD

Division of Neurology, Doernbecher Children's Hospital

Topic: Overview of Pediatric Epilepsy...What's so special about kids anyway?

Date: May 7th, 7pm-9pm

Meeting Location:
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Building 2
(Directly across the street from the main hospital)

1040 NW 22nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210

Free parking is available in the Medical Building's
own attached parking structure.

If you have any questions please call
(503) 228-7651
1 888 828 7651

Vancouver Education & Discussion Group
Vancouver, WA
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Second Wednesday of the month

Meeting Location:

Southwest Washington Medical Center
Health Education Center
600 NE 92nd Ave., Room 1
Bus Routes #37, #39

If you have any questions please call
(503) 228-7651
1 888 828 7651 (toll free)
Epilepsy Foundation Northwest    

 Health Education Center Entrance/Parking
-Enter on 92nd Avenue from Mill Plain Boulevard
-Pass the parking structure, and then turn left.
-The Health Education Center entrance is directly across the first driveway north of the parking structure

Online Support Group
WA
Tuesday, January 1 - Friday, December 31, 2010

This is an on-going, online support group for people in Oregon and Washington.  The facilitator is located in Yakima, WA.  To join the group, please go to: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support/

The group is open to people with epilepsy, caregivers, partners, and anyone whose life is affected by epilepsy.

Contact: Sara Earthdove-Tinker 509-698-5320  or 509-961-8223 

E-mail: tomsara1@compwrx.com 

Spokane Youth Group
Spokane, WA
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Second Saturday of the month

 

Youth effected by epilepsy are encouraged to participate in monthly support meetings sponsored by Youth 'N Action. Youth 'N Action provides a safe venue for youth with a variety of disabilities to support one another, learn important advocacy skills, and learn their rights and how to navigate the systems that serve them.

This group meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 1-3p.m. in a conference room at the Spokane Downtown Library, 906 W. Main.  Questions?  Please e-mail Ryan M. Oelrich at Roelrich@epilepsynw.org

Seattle Education & Discussion Group
Seattle, WA
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
First Wednesday of the month

Are you a person with epilepsy? Do you know someone with epilepsy? Our Seattle Epilepsy Education and Discussion Group meetings provide useful information through brief, educational presentations and a safe place to discuss issues related to epilepsy.

Wednesday, May 7th: "Disaster Readiness"
Speaker: Caitlin Smith
American Red Cross-Seattle
Topics: individuals with disabilities and disaster preparedness

Wednesday, 6/4 Topic TBD
Wednesday, 7/2 Topic TBD

Wednesday, August 6th: "Epilepsy and Social Security Disability: Getting Benefits when you are not able to Work"
Speaker: Anne Kysar, Attorney

Past Topics: "Seizures triggers," "Seizures, meds, and memory," "Epilepsy and employment," "New treatment options for epilepsy," "Simple and complex partial seizures," "Talking to your doctor," "Stress management," "Traveling with epielepsy"

Location: Patient and Family Resource Center
GEH-76 Harborview Medical Center
325 9th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104
Near the Gift Shop and Outpatient Pharmacy

Join the Email List and Get Email Reminders!
To join the e-mail list for Seattle Epilepsy Education and Discussion Group, please e-mail  mail@epilepsynw.org. A reminder will be sent to those on the list a week prior to the meeting.  Questions?  Please call (206) 422-6873.

Seattle Adult Networking Group: Pizza Party
Seattle, WA
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Epilepsy Networking Group outings provide opportunities to get to know other people affected by epilepsy through fun activities. 

Upcoming Networking Events
Saturday, 5/24/08 Pizza Party & Educational Presentation by Cyberonics

Past Destinations: Olympic Sculpture Park, Central Library, Frye Art Museum, Pike Place Market, Seattle University and The Chapel of St. Ignatius, Fremont, Water Taxi and Alki Beach,  Hiram M. Chittenden Lock and Fish Ladder

To Register: Please e-mail mail@epilepsynw.org or call (206) 547-4551.

Join the Email List
Joining the Epilepsy Networking Group email list is the best way to get event information and reminders.  Please e-mail mail@epilepsynw.org if you are interested in joining the list.