Community Education, Outreach & Advocacy

The Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island believes that with education
comes understanding and acceptance. As part of the ongoing Community
Education and Outreach programs, the Foundation seeks to communicate
 with all persons who have seizure disorders. The Foundation also strives
to educate teachers, health care professionals, corporations and industry,
as well as the general public, about the causes, treatment and consequences
 of epilepsy. Programs include:

• The Seizure Smart Program - reaches out to school staff in an effort to
   combat the stigma and misinformation surrounding epilepsy. Teachers
  will learn to recognize the three most common types of seizures and how
  to respond effectively to a child having a seizure.
• Take Charge of the Facts Program - Teaches students about epilepsy
  and seizures, causes and treatment, and first-aid procedures in the hopes
  of dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions that still exist.
• Kids On The Block - The "Kids on the Block" is an internationally acclaimed 
  program bringing a creative approach to public education. Since the 1980's, 
  over one million children and adults have learned about epilepsy through 
  the valuable and entertaining FREE educational program.
  
           
• Advocacy - The Foundation promotes inclusion and assists in the mission
  to eliminate stigma in the workplace, schools and community at large.

                              2003 Winning Kid!

"To have Epilepsy means to be a little different , but to be different doesn't bother me." These are the wise words spoken by eight year old Brittany Elizabeth Teller.

Brittany is a bright, active and outgoing third grader at Bowling Green Elementary School in Westbury. She takes lessons in piano, dance, and swimming. She is a Girl Scout, and she has recently been named the "2003 Winning Kid."

Brittany was diagnosed with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE) at the age of four. BRE is a childhood epileptic syndrome that is characterized by partial seizures affecting the face the tongue and that occur during sleep, or just before waking in Brittany's case. Brittany has been seizure-free for almost a year, because of successful anti-convulsant medication.