EPILEPSY Scotland has launched a month-long campaign to increase awareness of epilepsy amongst students in colleges and universities across Scotland.
This comes after a survey by the charity found 64% of respondents said their studies impacted their epilepsy in some way.
They were asked about their feelings around a lack of understanding of the condition and the variability in support available from their colleges or universities.
The #StudentSeptember campaign will see the launch of a podcast series created by students with epilepsy, and will share a series of blogs exploring the experiences of students and offering advice and information.
Epilepsy Scotland’s volunteer student ambassador Chloe Smith has been living with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and photosensitive epilepsy.
She said: “I was diagnosed with my epilepsies during my second year of secondary school when I was 13 and struggled quite intensely as a student.
“I was having many seizures during this time and missed a lot of school. Some teachers were patient, but many were not. I ended up leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, no support, and very little understanding of my condition and how to maintain it.
“This period was one of the most difficult of my life. I felt very lost, low, and in many ways isolated.
“One year later, after focusing solely on my health, I began studying at college, where I spent the next five years hoping to one day be able to apply to university to study psychology. I am now in my fourth year of university and applying for a postgraduate degree.
“In retrospect, my overall experience with members of staff from both college and university has made me feel particularly grateful. Every person I reached out to for support did everything within their ability to help me.
“I have always felt very cared for and listened to during further education. As though these people who barely knew me genuinely want to see me succeed. And despite having little understanding of epilepsy, knew that they wanted to understand enough to help me in any way possible.
“I can only imagine the support that could be offered to students with epilepsy if institutions of further and higher education had more information and more understanding. That’s really what my role of Student Ambassador at Epilepsy Scotland is - to work with colleges and universities and share both information on the condition, and ways they can encourage and support students with epilepsy during their studiesShe added: “Knowledge is power, and at Epilepsy Scotland, we will continue to enforce our student campaign and promote the healthy, fair, and inclusive student experience that people with epilepsy deserve.”
Epilepsy Scotland’s campaign follows the success of the charity’s ongoing project to increase awareness of epilepsy amongst students.
After their first ever #StudentSeptember campaign last year, which saw the launch of their new student guide, an informative guide for students, offering practical advice and covering all aspects of student life, the charity wants to build on this momentum.
The aim of the #StudentSeptember campaign is to help students with epilepsy to adapt to further and higher education as easily as possible.
Lesslie Young, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland said: “We know there is a lack of understanding about epilepsy in further and higher education.
“Our #StudentSeptember campaign will aim to increase awareness of epilepsy among students, and provide helpful information and advice to students with epilepsy.
“We are also eager to make sure that universities and colleges across Scotland have the appropriate support in place for people living with the neurological condition.”“We hope both students with and without epilepsy will learn from this campaign, and gain a greater awareness of epilepsy, and what that might mean for people with the condition navigating college or university.”
