Suzanne Nurse says she hopes a March 20 Epilepsy Ontario webinar will provide people with a better understanding of what epilepsy is.
Nurse, an epilepsy information specialist who will be moderating the webinar, adds that once people have the information they need they are encouraged to share what they’ve learned at the webinar to build awareness of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Having the right information, Nurse notes, often heightens the confidence of those living with epilepsy, making them more comfortable about talking about their condition.
“When I meet people who haven’t received a lot of information about epilepsy they feel quite insecure and uncomfortable talking about epilepsy, but when they have a greater knowledge and understanding of what epilepsy is I think it makes it much easier for them to then convey that information to others,” Nurse says.
“(Having information) increases people’s confidence to be able to talk about epilepsy and to have a greater understanding of what’s causing their seizures.”
Some of the discussion topics will include:
– What is the difference between a seizure and epilepsy? What causes epilepsy?
– What are some common types of seizures? How are they different?
– Answers to frequently asked questions about epilepsy and seizures.
The webinar, entitled An Introduction to Epilepsy, is aimed at anyone interested in learning more about the condition, and will be especially useful to people living with seizure disorders and their families. The information will also be helpful to people experiencing new onset seizures or who are in the process of diagnostic testing.
People who do not have epilepsy and do not have a family member with the condition are also encouraged to join the discussion.
“It’s really for anybody — whatever level of knowledge they have,” Nurse says. “We’re hoping that when the session is over that everybody will have learned something.”
There will be an opportunity for people to submit questions when they register, and there will also be time designated during the webinar for those tuning in to ask questions.
The webinar is the latest in a series of online sessions Epilepsy Ontario is hosting throughout the year. A Jan. 23 webinar on the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) was the first session. Because of the success of that event, Epilepsy Ontario decided to host more webinars in 2014 to promote epilepsy education.
Nurse says a major benefit of these webinars is that anyone with an Internet connection or telephone living in any region of Ontario can access important information.
The webinar is Thursday, March 20 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is accessible by Internet and telephone. E-mail rozalyn(at)epilepsyontario.org to book your free registration. The webinar’s call-in number is 416-764-8662/1-888-884-4534. Participant code: 7605062#
Login information: https://ontariobraininstitute.adobeconnect.com/_a1127859234/introtoepilepsy/
Writer: Deron Hamel
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