Epilepsy in Education

What is Epilepsy?
Condition Description Epilepsy is defined by having more than one seizure caused by brain abnormality. Seizures not due to fever, trauma, or tumors Severity of seizures range from strong convulsions to blank stares. Damage that causes epilepsy is recognizable through brain scans MRI, EEG or CT scans This is the only way to distinguish epileptic seizures from any other kind 50% - 60% of epileptics stop having seizures after trying their first medication Raises to 80% when people who were unsuccessful in their first medication try a second. Behavioral Characteristics Blackouts

Support Services & Advocates

Epilepsy Foundation of SC American Epilepsy Society Intractable Childhood Epilepsy Alliance

Prolonged staring, unresponsiveness or odd behavior Emotionless, extreme fatigue, hear odd sounds, distorted perceptions Automatism: automatic, involuntary movement during seizure Jerky or repetitive movements Disruptive behavior Depending on what part of the brain the seizure affects, different disruptive behaviors may occur Left side brain seizures

Epilepsy Support Centre The Epilepsy Therapy Project

South Carolina Advocates Front brain Disorganized, lack of

regard for consequences Effects on Learning Attention, memory, concentration, organization Motor skills, cognitive function, acquiring new skills Storing and retrieving information Defining words, remembering historical dates and events, identifying key characteristics in a story for Epilepsy

American Epilepsy Outreach

Foundation

Epilepsy Services Foundation

Timelines of key events using

index cards

Illustrating character traits Symbols for key events

Mathematics

Anxiety & frustration, unable to understand or express ideas Right side brain Social problems, impulsivity, problems understanding social cues

Provide facts and formulas

problem solving

Allow student to uses a calculator when introducing a new problem solving concept

Student creates a journal containing basic math operations that pertain to whole numbers and fractions to learn concepts

Number lines and visual references for quired to provide those accommodations for the student. Accommodations in the Classroom Because epilepsy can have many effects on learning there are many ways teachers can accommodate students. Language Arts; Using graphic organizers to display information in a story Concept Building

Epilepsy in School
Obtaining Assistance Students may qualify for assistance only if their epilepsy interferes with their school performance. They may qualify under the IDEA Act which was passed to ensure that all handicapped children receive the appropriate education at no cost and in the least restrictive environment. This act enables children with epilepsy to remain in a regular classroom and learn the same curriculum with their peers. The student may also qualify under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, so that the child receives reasonable accommodations in the classroom. a student with epilepsy needs accommodations, schools are re-

Example: A history lesson on

explorers

Student can reference pictures of explorers

Create a web of the explorers physical characteristics and personality traits

Chart contributions to exploration

Make connections to present day: Who is an explorer that lives today?

Epilepsy
Primary Business Address Your Address Line 2 Your Address Line 3 Your Address Line 4 Phone: 555-555-5555 Fax: 555-555-5555 E-mail: someone@example.com

This would be a good place to insert a short paragraph about your organization. It might include the purpose of the organization, its mission, founding date, and a brief history. You could also include a brief list of the types of products, services, or programs your organization offers, the geographic area covered (for example, western U.S. or European markets), and a profile of the types of customers or members served. It would also be useful to include a contact name for readers who want more information about the organization.

Were on the Web! example.com

Your business tag line here.

Organization

Back Page Story Headline

This story can fit 175-225 words. If your newsletter is folded and mailed, this story will appear on the back. So, its a good idea to make it easy to read at a glance. A question and answer session is a good way to quickly capture the attention of readers. You can either compile questions that youve received since the last edition or you can summarize some generic questions that are frequently asked about your organization. A listing of names and titles of managers in your organization is a good way to give your newsletter a personal touch. If your organization is small, you may want to list the names of all employees. If you have any prices of standard products or services, you can include a listing of those here. You may want to refer your readers to any other forms of communication that youve created for your organization. You can also use this space to remind readers to mark their calendars for a regular event, such as a breakfast meeting for vendors every third Tuesday of the month, or a biannual charity auction. If space is available, this is a good place to insert a clip art image or some other graphic.

Caption describing picture or graphic.