In the past, before my spells were as well controlled as they are
now, I've lost jobs due to my siezures. One job involved a 100 mile
daily commute, so once I had to do a med change and lost my driving
priveleges I couldn't get to work. I imagine that kind of
information comes up during the reference checks...of course they
can't ask medical questions while interviewing, but they do inquire
as to the reasons why the job ended.

Now that I've been siezure free for two years, some doctors might say
that I'm no longer an Epileptic, so explaining my condition at this
stage is kind of difficult. Basically I'm only dealing with the side
effects of the meds, and since that may affect my work performance I
feel like I need to be prepared to explain it since I don't want my
employer thinking I'm coming to work intoxicated.


--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Sherry
<hot.rod.wife@...> wrote:
>
> 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.
>