Stigma & Epilepsy
Wow, this was a "red rag to a bull" Bernard! I've gotta tell you about some of the things I've had said to me over the last 22 years, bearing in mind that I have lost my job eight times simply because I have epilepsy.
One guy asked me.."Why don't you drive Elaine?" I said "I have epilepsy" he looked me up and down acouple of times and he said.." Wow, you so don't look like you have epilepsy" What the hell am I supposed to look like!! I had someone ask if they could catch it? People just assume you can't go clubbing or operate a VDU, when in actual fact, only 2-3% of PWE are photosensitive.
I think, and having given several talks in London on radio and tv, I've always said this..epilepsy can accompany more serious conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome etc, and people just assume that we are all gonna be on the deck, legs in the air, foaming at the mouth every five minutes, it is so misunderstood, in one of my jobs, one of the company directors said one day,.."Good morning Elaine, and how's your disability today?" I swear to god I mumbled, I can take tablets for my condition, you are stuck with that face!!!
It's National Epilepsy Week here in the UK 18th-25th May, and I've been e.mailing tv shows to see if they would be interested in interviewing me, I will do all I can to raise awareness, I know I'm not a nutter! Well, you know, I have my moments, ha ha!!
Keep smiling everyone!:bigmouth: