help on employment for epilepsy sufferers

[bigc]

What help do people with epilepsy get, when applying for a job, do employers shun away from people with this disorder. My son is desparate to work

[Medsec1]

My son is also desperate to work also. The only thing with employers is that they usually help people with disabilities to at least get an interview, but as my son has been seizure-free for a couple of years now, he doesn't mention it. Some companies do discriminate though, we've been on the receiving end of that.

[bigc in reply to Medsec1]

If they don't declare that they have epilepsy, are they not putting their self in danger, if asked to operate any machinery. Plus the employer has a duty of care, therefore not to tell would be a breach of contract, if they found out that they had this disorder and didn't mention it.

[JSJ58]

I work in a job where my relatively well controlled epilepsy, with stressed induced nocturnal fits don't put anyone in danger. However, every time I have been honest with people and told them about my condition I have been suspended and been to hell and back. Subsequently I have ceased to tell anyone about it and consequently had no problems up to date. Until society accepts our condition I fear that nothing is going to change.

[monaco1]

If you think you can hide your epilepsy, - like you typically don't have seizures when in work - then risk hiding it. I felt I couldn't - then work treated me with respect and tried to make allowances when I had seizures. But my seizures eventually ended up forcing me out of work. But if I hadn't told them from the start, they probably would have had kicked me out sooner. But I understand - it can be difficult finding a job these days when you can be having a seizure any time. If you don't tell them, then you can have continuous tension fearing "When am I going to have my next seizure?" If an attitude of being scared, or nervous constantly comes over you, then they will find out eventually. Try to be honest with them - then you have nothing to hide If you only have night seizures - then don't tell them - it doesn't affect them

[AmyBadd]

What country are you in? If you are in the UK, then Epilepsy is a disability covered by the two ticks scheme.

This means that you SHOULD be asked "do you have a disability or long-standing illness?" on any application form and if you want to you can declare that you do (that is one tick!). The other tick is if you fulfill all the ESSENTIAL skills/qualifications listed. All job adverts should have a list of essential requirements that they need you to have (eg. knowledge of a computer program you will use a lot, A-levels or equivalent, etc) and a list of preferred skills that they would like you to have (eg. knowledge of a computer program you only might have to use, a university degree, etc). If you declare a disability AND you have all the ESSENTIAL skills, then they MUST give you an interview BY LAW.

This is supposed to help to stop companies from discriminating from people with disabilities, by giving them a chance to prove themselves at interviews. Of course, discrimination can still take place (whether conscious or unconscious), and it is up to you whether you want to declare your illness or not.

Hope this helps,

Amy

[bigc in reply to AmyBadd]

Larger companies will interview people with disabilities, but unfortunately if the disability can be a risk to the person, or others, they will never get started, even if they have the qualification required. Unfortunatly if you tell them most, companies will not take the risk. The smaller company will only pay lip service to people with disbilities, because to keep people safe at work costs money. Epilepsy is a condition that most employers are either ignorant about or are scared of, which in these days of information is discraceful. What is the solution to this problem ?? this cycle of ignorance has to be broken

[AmyBadd in reply to bigc]

I think this is something that is job- and person-specific. I personally have had a lot of good experiences with the people I've told about epilepsy. As epilepsy is so common, the majority of them already know someone with the condition (heck, my sister-in-law has it, too!), and I have personally never felt discriminated against in a work situation. Having said that, I've not yet had a job which could put me at a potential risk because of my epilepsy and also, my condition is controlled so it doesn't impact my day-to-day work.

I suppose it comes down to how big an impact the epilepsy is likely to have on a person's work. If they are likely to regularly have seizures when they are at work, then you can understand that a company might not want to employ them because they might not be able to work 1/4 of the time they are supposed to be working or something.

With someone like me, I think that having "a disability" may actually count in my favour to some extent. Large companies actually have quotas of people from different "minority groups" that they aim to employ. Because my epilepsy does not effect how I work and I have advanced qualifications in my area, companies like this (the ones in my work area anyway!) have no reason not to employ me, plus I help to fulfill their "quota" of disabled people, if I declare a disability.

[bigc in reply to AmyBadd]

I can understand what you mean about conpanies having to fill their quotas on employing the person with disabilities, unfortunatly most companies only see the disability and not the person, who carry an abundance of various skills but arn't being given the chance, due to lack of knowledge concerning the disability. I feel the stigma of epilepsy is a barrier to people progressing with their lives a potential careers. and in the present economic climate it is difficult enough without being discriminated against.

[AmyBadd in reply to bigc]

Can you give an example as to what you have experienced, because like I said, I have never yet experienced any sort of discrimination related to my epilepsy in a work scenario?

I think it's important that we distinguish between three things that can happen:

1. people can be genuinely discriminated against

2. people feel they are being discriminated against but in fact there is a good reason why they haven't been offered a job, eg. there is some real danger because of their epilepsy or perhaps it is not related to the illness, eg. they don't have all the necessary skills for the job or there was a better candidate (like you said it hard to get jobs now as it is)

3. people use their epilepsy as a "reason" or "excuse" for not getting a job or progressing, but really that is not the reason

Like I said, my epilepsy is fully controlled so maybe I don't have the full perspective that other people have, but I would like to hear what any of you have experienced. Personally I have been able to progress far in the area I work in. At the moment I am doing a PhD, so I am not employed, but there was no obvious discrimination when I was applying for PhD positions (very similar to applying for jobs) and I don't see that it should restrict me in the jobs I want to do when I finish, either.

[bigc in reply to AmyBadd]

This situation happened to my son who applied to a company for a job, he was given the first interveiw and was asked back for the second one. During the second interveiw he informed them of his epilepsy, and told them he was on medication but still takes seizures and his medication is being adjusted accordingly. He told me that he felt their attitude changed once he admitted this, he felt that before he informed them of his condition he felt he was doing well.

Now this may well only be his opinion, but i have to take his word on this. Anyway he never got the job. It would be very difficult to say its discrimination, but you have to wonder if he hadn't told them, would his chances have been better. we shall never know.

[Fifi74 in reply to AmyBadd]

Hi there. I have only just seen your message as been a little busy with my beautiful 10 week old boy A full time job in itself.

I have written on the forum before about this very topic as it is something that particularly interests me. I feel I have been very lucky in my work and have always been open with my employers. I haven't really encountered overt hurdles relating to my work, but I do feel that it can sometimes create a platform for others to see you as different in some way. However, on reflection this may be my own anxiety and I feel that any ignorance can only be challenged if we are open. We are otherwise fighting a losing battle. The only difficulty I have encountered is whilst studying for my doctorate. Owing to the nature of my work, It was suggested by lecturers that my trainee clients be told I have epilepsy. I felt rather discriminated against, and do feel that even within the field of health professionals there is anxiety. My complex partial seizures are very mild and I felt it is up to me if and when I tell clients. My seizures don't present with any major risk, so I feel I would be causing unnecessary concern to a client who needs to feel contained and safe. I would however tell a client should it happen in a session. I have agreed with my lecturers to turn it into something positive and write an article on it and have since decided to use it as the topic for my thesis. Like yourself, I am determined not to let my seizures get in the way of me pursuing my career. I wish you well with your Phd

[AmyBadd]

That's a horrible situation to be in. I wish him all the best. It sounds like if he was able to get to a second interview with this company, though, he might have a good chance for other jobs in general. Perhaps in his case, the best thing to do would be to keep it under wraps until he has been offered a job, and only then inform them about it. Obviously they would need to know about it for his safety, etc, so he would need to tell them, but if they try to take back an offer after it already been made official then I think he would have a legal case against them, as that is clearly discrimination unless for example he won't be able to carry out a big part of the work because it involves driving or something else he wouldn't be able to do.

Although I have never experienced anything like this in a work environment, something like this did happen in a personal situation when I was a teenager. I had a boyfriend and he knew about my epilepsy and said he was fine with it, but after we'd been together for a few months I had a seizure in front of him and after that he just seemed to act differently around me. Perhaps we were just growing apart anyway, but personally I always thought it was something to do with that that we became less close and broke it off a few weeks later.

I hope your son finds employment soon.

[bigc]

Thank you,

the slogan should be see the ability,not the disability.

I am only asking these questions, as i think there should be a level playing field for everyone,life is difficult for everyone at present. We all need a hand up to get on with our lives.

if anyone else knows how to help, i will gladly listen.

[Talbot]

I sympathize wholeheartedly with your son. It took me twelve and a half years from leaving school to finding my first job. I tried more than one Job Centre and answered many newspaper adverts. I always had an honesty policy, as it was obvious that eventually the employer would discover something unusual. Even though I only had petit mal, not one employer would give me a chance. At one point I began to believe I would never see a wage slip. Even after my neurosurgery the employers were still weary of me; it took a further four years before someone decided to give me a chance.

That was the negative side, but now look at me. My present job I have held for twelve and a half years; the employer knows what I can or can't do, so leaves me to get on with what I can do, and it satisfies both parties. My surgery effected my memory, which makes higher jobs out of reach, yet I am happy that I have the job I have.

Don't let the epilepsy allow him to think negatively, as we now have the DDA to back us up, something which I never had during my years of heartache. Just don't aim too high, but keep the disability in perspective. Good luck to him.

[bigc in reply to Talbot]

what is the DDA

[Talbot in reply to bigc]

The Disability Discrimination Act

[nicolagreves Volunteer]

I had a bad experience at work as a result of my epilepsy; it wasn't affecting my ability to work, or putting any one at risk, but I believe it was because my manager did not have the understanding or awareness of how to deal with my seizures. I had full support of my union, and am sure I could have fought to keep my job, but I accepted that we would never have a good relationship so moved on. I've never looked back, and since then I have had full support from other managers.

[Hidden]

I have had a number of jobs over the years. Some have required me to be responsive for the care of others, others have been office work hitting deadlines. I have seen colleagues buckle and suffer under the pressure of the work. Some have developed injuries, others have aggravated existing conditions. Throughout all of this I have felt no less protected because of my Epilepsy. I have been fired from a job before as my sickness record was high. This was within the first couple of years of my Epilepsy and sure, days off were to be expected and employers should be mindful and aware. Thing is I underplayed the condition in the interview and freed a picture of a managed, controlled condition that shouldn't cause a problem. My fault, I inadvertently put myself into a corner f my own creation. My own words and signed declaration were used against me at my exit interview. What could I do. They were right. I said it was fine and hunky dorey, totally managed. I know that my meds compliance was still shaky. Denial was a huge part of those days. Following this instance I only ever played it straight. I knew a bough about myself and my condition to present a frank, honest but sensible picture of what it meant. I laid out scenarios, what to do or what not to do. I was employed each time because I educated as I interviewed. So as long as I could actually do the job I was fine. There is discrimination still, probably always will be. But the nervousness and the fear perpetuated within employment is ripe for breaking down by us. We who have this condition, live with this condition and love with this condition are the ones who need to show that normality still exists and like a lift for wheelchair access, or a fixed layout for visual impairment. It takes merely understanding and reasonable management of expectations to make the situation work. What I will emphasise is that I f you rely on the details of your condition to help explain you difficulties then you telly need to make those details clear before you take the job. Being turned down for a job can be upsetting and demoralising but being fired because you didn't disclose something can be a negative on your future CV. I wish and I hope that as the years move along and Epilepsy awareness increases we can all achieve a more equal place in the world and in every area. One voice. Purple day in Canada and similar things will make all the difference. My honest best to everyone and best wishes to all those trying to make their way in this world x

GM