Advocacy

The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan helps to preserve rights and privileges of people with epilepsy and their families through our Advocacy programs.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan has an active grassroots advocacy network where consumers affect change in the social service delivery system at the local, state, and national levels.

The Epilepsy Action Network is the Epilepsy Foundation's grassroots advocacy program. Through this program, individuals are made aware of important legislative issues and given guidance on how to shape the public policies that affect independence and quality of life for people with epilepsy. For more information, please call our Vice President at (800) 377-6226, ext. 211 or send an e-mail.

The Foundation also sponsors an annual Legislative Breakfast in Lansing. The purpose of the breakfast is to provide a forum for individuals affected by epilepsy to meet with their legislators and to discuss some of their public policy concerns. The Foundation updates attendees on our public policy recommendations and provides coaching to help them express their concerns. Priority issues for the breakfast often focus on access to health care, medication, physician specialists, and employment.

Download our Public Policy Agenda.

Mental Health Parity
Mentally ill patients seeking treatment are discriminated against by requiring higher co-payments, allowing fewer doctor visits or days in the hospital, or higher deductibles than imposed other medical illnesses.  This discrimination results from outdated misconceptions and the stigma surrounding mental illnesses.

Along with the Michigan Partners for Parity, the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan has been working hard to address this important issue.  We encourage everyone to get involved.  The first step you can take is to become more informed.  To learn more, please download the Mental Health Parity documents.

• lobbying against the repeal of Michigan's Motorcycle Helmet Law
• supports parity for mental health services with other medical services  More information on Mental Health Parity
• efforts to improve the fairness and clarity of driver licensing regulations
• securing a state proclamation for Epilepsy Awareness Month
• lobbying for the passage of the Pharmaceutical Best Practices Initiative  
• initiating efforts to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety

For a summary of Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan's public policy recommendations, see our Call to Action report. To view this report, click here. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this document.

For further information on who represents you, click here. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this document (see above).

At the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, we believe that by raising the level of awareness and teaching the general public about epilepsy, we can help reduce the fear and stigma associated with the disorder. If you are interested in advocating for epilepsy, contact us at (800) 377-6226 or via email.