Advocacy

Individual Advocacy

Many times, individuals with epilepsy are not familiar with the rights assured to them under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sometimes, laws concerning discrimination are confusing. In other instances, individuals with epilepsy are misled to believe that they do no have the same rights as everyone else, or are unsure how to or are afraid to demand their rights.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana has successfully advocated for many individuals with epilepsy. The cases have varied in problem and objective, and have been as simple as a phone call to as complicated as a legal battle. The Foundation has received calls for help from people who have been wrongly denied SSDI, to students denied access in college classes, to people who experience improper responses to their seizures.

Executive Director Debbie McGrath's advocacy efforts were recognized at the National Epilepsy Foundation Conference in September 2002. The National Foundation awarded Debbie with the Excellence in Advocacy Award for her commitment to the rights of people with epilepsy in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Feel free to call the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana for help if you feel that you feel that your rights have been violated because of epilepsy or seizures.

Legislative Advocacy

In addition to advocating for people with epilepsy on an individual level, the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana in involved in state and federal legislation. Regularly sent email action alerts provide up-to-date information on current and pending legislation which may affect people with epilepsy. These alerts provide contact information for your legislators and key points to discuss with them. Sign up to recieve these action alerts by emailing dmcgrath@efky.org.

The Public Policy Institute (PPI) is another program of the Epilepsy Foundation that serves to advocate for people affected by epilepsy on a nationwide level. The insitute includes the Kids Speak Up! and Speak Up Speak Out programs. More information on these programs is available at Speak Up Speak Out.