I feel for you. My step-son is on three different meds and has a VNS and
his seizures still aren't controlled! He pretty much has to tell a
potential employer that he has seizures because it's a given that he will
have seizures while working. He's doing a volunteer job at the YMCA once a
week for two hours and I was talking with the volunteer coordinator the
other day - she said that he frequently has seizures there. They're awesome
at the Y - of course, they're all trained in first aid and they're really
not too bothered by his seizures. He does have a helmet from Plument that
he wears there and will wear if he ever gets a job. But he refused to wear
it any other time. Their website is
http://www.plument.com/protectacapplus.htm - it's a lot lighter helmet than
the plastic type.

DVR has contracted with NW Center to help him find a job - they even create
jobs for people, working in conjunction with local businesses - and NW
Center's having a heck of a time finding something that he can safely do.
He just wants a few hours a week to get him out of the house and give him a
little extra spending money. I'm sure he's aware that he'll never be able to
be a productive member of society.

When Lars went to "Job Club" at the Harborview Neuro Rehab center, the
leader told the participants to *not* disclose their seizures during the
interview process if they're not going to interfere with the work.
Afterwards, maybe yes, maybe no. There's no requirement to disclose a
disability if you can successfully do the job without it being a
consideration.

How would they find out about the seizures during a reference check? I
don't think a previous employer can disclose medical information.....

Sherry

-----Original Message-----
From: Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Tom
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:24 PM
To: Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support] New to the group

I've been taking medications for siezures since 1983, and you'd think that
after this amount of time I would have overcome every obsticle. But
unfortunately, the one I can never seem to conquer is ignorance. I haven't
had a siezure since 2004, but I know better than to tell anyone what I take
meds for because it will lead to difficulties finding a job, holding onto a
job, or just people acting like I'm too fragile to function in society.

I could use any advice anyone may have on how to disclose epilespy to an
employer when you're seeking employment, or possibly suggest somewhere I
could apply for a job and not have to worry about discrimination. I've been
applying for state jobs for the last year and even though I'm qualified for
the positions, I keep being turned down. I have a feeling that once they
start checking references and find out about my history of siezures, they
end up filling the positions with someone without a history of siezures.

I hope this doesn't sound too paranoid...it's been 20 years since I've
actually had an employer tell me I wasn't hired due to my
seizures, and that was before the ADA.