These insights advocate for inclusive practices that promote equal opportunities and support for PWE. This module has covered how to:

  • Understan the different accommodation possibilities for people with epilepsy and why it is useful to know the nature of epilepsy, recognize potential triggers, and know the main challenges faced before employment and during employment.
  • Professionally integrate a person with epilepsy, which requires taking into account their specific situation and their unique needs for accommodations when these are necessary. In this case, the employer must respect medical confidentiality. The occupational physician can play a key role in defining and implementing the necessary reasonable accommodations.
  • Provide accommodations which may involve work environment adjustments, work schedule flexibility, assistive technology and task modifications.
  • Implement training and educational initiatives for all employees will help to reduce stigma.
  • Ensure the safety and well-being of all employees in the workplace is an obligation of every employer.

According to the World Health Organization, 10% of the world population will have a seizure during their lifetime. This means that employers should not only know how to accommodate for PwE (regardless of whether they are seizure-prone or not) but also make the workplace safe in the case someone should have a one-off seizure.

With an action plan in place and awareness of the types of accommodations possible, employers can create inclusive environments for PwE.

Information sources used

    1. EpilepsyPower Final Report PR01 (2022) : https://epilepsypower-project.eu/en/results
    2. https://askjan.org/disabilities/Epilepsy-Seizure-Disorder.cfm
    3. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_emp/—ifp_skills/documents/publication/wcms_316815.pdf
    4. https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/employment/accomodation
    5. https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/about-epilepsy/what-epilepsy/epilepsy-facts-and-myths
    6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy

Suggested readings

  1. Fraser, Robert F. (2011) Working Effectively with Employees who Have Epilepsy. K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability. Cornell University. http://hrtips.org/article_1.cfm?b_id=10
  2. Cornell University. Working Effectively with Employees Who Have Epilepsy. https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/89812/A85_PDF_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  3. National Library of MedIcine, Diagnosis and Classification of Epilepsy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071497/