Ask the Neurologist: Advocacy and Epilepsy

David M. Ficker, MD

Director, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, Cincinnati Epilepsy Center

University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Advocacy is defined as the action of pleading for, or supporting a cause. One of the Epilepsy Foundation’s major objectives is to advocate for people with epilepsy.

I had the unique opportunity to participate in the Foundation’s advocacy mission in April as part of the Kids Speak Up/Public Policy Institute (KSU/PPI) in Washington, D.C. and learned firsthand about the advocacy priorities of the Foundation. The major focus of KSU/PPI was to have children with epilepsy meet with members of Congress to seek support for epilepsy related legislation. The message we delivered consisted of three components. First, the Foundation seeks to increase funding for epilepsy research through the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. Second, the Foundation seeks to have Congress enact legislation to restore the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Finally, the Foundation supports legislation that ensures students with epilepsy get appropriate educational services.

As a physician,  I was unaware of many of the advocacy efforts of the Epilepsy Foundation and I learned quite a bit about these efforts. I would urge all people with epilepsy and families affected by epilepsy to get involved in the advocacy efforts of the Epilepsy Foundation. Members of Congress need to know the important issues of the people they represent and our message does need to be heard. You can learn how you can help by visiting the Epilepsy Foundation’s advocacy page at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/advocacy.