MOBILE POLICE OFFICERS TRAINED INSEIZURE RECOGNITION

All Mobile police officers are now trained in seizurerecognition through a partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama. The training module,“Seizure Recognition/Seizure First Aid”. The Law Enforcement Initiative was included in the officers mandatory annual in-services courses.

The purpose of the course is to educate law enforcement personnel in not only identifying seizures but also in the personseizing. Chief Phillip Garrett has also made the training a mandatory course Mobile Police Academy's curriculum.”Obviously, people suffering from seizures have difficulty responding to officers commands. "I want our personnel to not only identify the problem but be properly educated in how to effectively treat it," says Garrett.

Seizures are episodes of altered brain awareness or movement caused by temporary, abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Seizures may occur because a person has epilepsy, diabetes or as a consequence of drug use or some other medical problem. The Epilepsy Foundation recognizes the growing need to provide information to law enforcement officers regarding key issues involved in police response to individuals with epilepsy and to calls relating to seizures. The training in seizure recognition is a guidelline for law enforcement personnel and is expected to soon be available to law enforcement agencies statewide.

The Mobile Police Department's course is instructed by Lt. Keith Stallings, Commander of the Fire Arms Unit, Cindy Morris, Mobile Police Academy Training Specialist, Caroline Foster, Director of Public Relations/Community Education, Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama and Mitchell Garrett, Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama is a statewide agency, providing seizure awareness programs to all Alabama. For information, call 341-0170 or 1-800-626-1582.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AS RESTORED

The Governor's Office on Disability cordially invites you to attend a complimentary, invitation-only, breakfast featuring the Honorable Stuart Ishimaru, Acting Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, addressing "The American with Disabilities Act as Restored" with emphasis on The Rights of Employers and Employees with emphasis on persons with epilepsy. A panel presentation will follow starting at 9:15 a.m. in the Ballroom, Sponsored by the The Governors Office on Disability, State of Alabama and the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama "Employment Signature Program". This conference was made possible by a grant from the Epilepsy Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under grant #5U58DP000606-03. Its contents do not necessarily represent the Official views of CDC.

It will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.-9:00a.m. at The Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, AL. Please RSVP to the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama to: e-mail dtoenes@efala.org or call                1-800-626-1582.

LECTURE ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN EPILEPSY

The Epilepsy Foundation Alabama and the Neurology Department of University of South Alabama presents Dean K. Naritoku, M.D., Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama. The lecture is on "New Developments in Epilepsy". A lecture at 7:00 p.m. followed by open questions and answers. It will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:30p.m.-8:30 p.m. at University Library, Room 181, University of South Alabama, North Drive. Reservations-Call 251-341-0170 or 1-800-626-1582.

THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION ALABAMA PRESENTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN INITIATIVE

The Epilepsy Foundation Alabama will present an African-American Initiative on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, Sheraton Birmingham Ballroom 3, 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., N., Birmingham, AL 35203. No registration fee, $10 for CEU's. Call   (251) 341-0170 or 1-800-626-1582. Mail registration to: Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama, Office Park 3, 273 Azalea Rd., Suite 310, Mobile, AL 36609-1970. Program Partners are the University of Alabama Birmingham-Department of Neurology.

The goals are: Provide general seizure education, Increase epilepsy awareness in the African American community, Offer support to African Americans with seizure problems,Create awareness among health care providers of the difficulties confronting African Americans with epilepsy and improve the quality of care they receive, Involve African American leadership, thus increasing the probability of acceptance and success in the community.

This program is developed with grant support from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(grant #5U58DP000606-03). Contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC.

THE MISSION

The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama is a volunitary, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by epilepsy in 28 counties across Alabama.

A nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, the Epilepsy Foundation ofAlabama has as its mission to educate and support individuals with epilepsy and their families, to increase awareness in the general community and to facilitate prevention and management of epilepsy. This includes providing services and programs for people with epilepsy and their families; educating and increasing awareness about epilepsy; providing leadership in advocacy for epilepsy issues and collaborating with other community resources in support of the mission of the people with seizure disorders.

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