Education is a hot topic for people with epilepsy, as there is a common theme that not enough is being done in schools to care for us and our needs. As we have certain needs that are very different from our friends, sometimes we do not always know what is essential to help us when we’re doing exams, essays, or even in lessons. Even though some teachers really shine and help us, it is the education system as a whole that can sometimes let us down. As epilepsy is an invisible disability, it can seem that the system does not know how to help us. Like many, I struggled in school due to my epilepsy. Some teachers thought I was lying about having seizures to have days off schools, and some teachers did not believe in me at all because of my epilepsy. The list could go on, but I have learnt as I have reached university that it is okay to request, or even demand, your rights in education. So here are some tips that will hopefully get you by during school and university:
Secondary School
- Make sure all your teachers are aware in detail of your disability. There are many different types of epilepsy and seizures, so informing your teachers will help them understand you in the classroom and give you the help that you need.
- Ask if there is somewhere you can rest. Like many people with epilepsy and people who are on anti-epileptic drugs, I REALLY struggle with tiredness. Fortunately, I went to a small catholic all-girls school where we had a large room called the Progress Centre. When I was in-between changing medication, or I had just been off school for a long time due to my uncontrolled tonic-clonic seizures, the Progress Centre provided me with a place to rest, sleep (on a bean bag!), and catch up with work I had missed. I was fortunate enough to have something like this in place, so if your school currently does not, maybe ask, and try and set something like this up. You will not be the only person who needs a place of rest during the long school day!
- Make sure you have extra time, rest breaks, and being in a separate room for your exams, and writing on a computer if need be.
- For your coursework, make sure you are allowed extra time with no hassle.
- If you have had seizures around the time of your GCSEs or A-Levels, make sure to apply for mitigating circumstances. This term means that when the examiners mark your exam, they will take your epilepsy and seizures into account.
- If you have had the results to your exams and assessments, you can pay to have these remarked with your mitigating circumstances considered.
University
- When you start university, it may seem that you are on your own at first, but do not worry because you never will be. The best decision I made at university was informing my lecture and seminar tutors of my disability. Sometimes in detail, sometimes not, but the conversation would usually begin by introducing myself, explaining my disability, and that I have certain needs when my epilepsy is not at its best. By doing this, I gained a good rapport and relationship with my tutors, and when I did fall unwell, they were able to look out for me and help me when I needed them. My tutors’ support with my epilepsy has helped me through some tough times, so I am extremely thankful for them.
- Get in touch with your university’s disability officer/s. They will be able to help you with the support you need throughout your university experience. You also have the choice to keep the information about your disability private or shared from other staff in the university, so don’t worry if feel like you do not want to share too much!
- Many of you may know this, but to those who do not, if you have a disability you are eligible to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). Through the DSA, you will not be able to require any funding, but they can help you in many other ways. For me, I received a mentor, who helped me gage my way through the first year of university. As my tonic-clonic seizures usually occur in the morning, I received the benefit of having taxis take me to and from my university. These are only a few examples of how the DSA helped me, but they can help you in many other ways. So, make sure to contact them when you are filling out your application to see what you are eligible to receive. If you are struggling with your DSA application, get in touch with your university’s disability officer, as they know the ins and outs of this application.
- Like I mentioned previously in ‘Secondary School’, make sure you get your reasonable adjustments in place for your exams and assessments. One essential requirement that helped me during my time at university was doing my exams from home. As I have said, my seizures are usually in the morning, and stress is also a trigger, so my tutors and I came to the decision to do my exams from home (a bit like what we are doing now in lockdown!). This may not be the best choice for you, but for me, this helped me so much as I was able to stop worrying about having a seizure on the way or at university, and could solely focus on the exam itself.
