I know that there is a strong association between autism/AS and epilepsy. I also know that it is probably unlikely that the more able autistic people of the older generation have any autism diagnosis. I also know that in the past epileptics have been the subject of all kinds of discrimination and negative stereotypes. So I am wondering to what degree anti-epileptic and anti-autistic attitudes overlap. Are there any undiagnosed aspies who's eccentricities are explained as the result of epilepsy? Are any of the negative beliefs about epileptics actually anti-autistic prejudices? Do eplipeptics still have to deal with negative attitudes in the present day?
A great many people are ignorant about epilepsy. Here are some of the things that they believe about it. Many people will not hire someone with epilepsy because they think the person will have a seizure at any given time. They view seizures as dangerous if any machinery is used at all, inconvenient and just something distasteful they do not want to see. They believe that someone with epilepsy is not responsible and can never be left alone. They also believe that people with epilepsy will never be able to drive a car. They believe that someone will choke on their tongue during a seizure. Some very ignorant people believe that epilepsy is caused by "demon possession".
From what I understand, if someone is taking medication for their seizures, they will rarely have a grand mal seizure. Most people do not understand petit mal seizures either. (I sometimes "zone out" or get "shakey" or hyperventilate when overstimulated in new situations and people sometimes mistake that for a seizure.) I have also heard that many people can feel a seizure is coming on and will be able to put themselves into a situation where they will be safe if they have a seizure. (is this true?) This might mean they have time to pull over their car for a rest break or go and sit somewhere quiet.
Employer would never tell someone that they are being fired or not hired because of their epilepsy. But that still might be the "unsaid" reason behind it. They will usually say something about "insurance coverage".
I have epilepsy myself, so it causes numerous problems for me in general but i haven't ever suffered any discrimination
I am restricted to having my computer monitor at 75Hz or higher refresh rate (though i can still watch tv and that is 50Hz refresh), i am completely unable to look at strobe lighting, or any flickering fluorescent lamps, i have to be careful not to shock myself too often, my driving license is currently restricted to 3 years, all being well after that i should get a longer one, and have passed my test anyway. I'm one of the lucky ones, where i work there is one or two others with epilepsy and they have fits nearly all the time, as does my fiancee's sister to my knowledge, though they are on medication
I'm most likely going to be on medication for epilepsy for the rest of my life but that's something i feel is more for my own good
I might be one of the lucky few who doesn't suffer discrimination, nor have any more fits. I'm the only one in my family that has epilepsy, it seems to have been put down to something genetic, and not likely to be passed down to any children i may have with my fiancee (if we decide that's what we want)
My social worker and carers have never stopped me doing anything, nor has my GP, and i hope other people with epilepsy start to recieve this sort of treatment too as i don't want to feel like i'm the only one that gets treated the way i do
Many people will not hire someone with epilepsy because they think the person will have a seizure at any given time. They view seizures as dangerous if any machinery is used at all, inconvenient and just something distasteful they do not want to see. They believe that someone with epilepsy is not responsible and can never be left alone. They also believe that people with epilepsy will never be able to drive a car. They believe that someone will choke on their tongue during a seizure.
Good points there, where i work there is machinery in use (saw, chopping machine, conveyer belt, heat sealer), and there are, as i said, one or two people with epilepsy working there, but the staff are trained in how to deal with epilepsy (assuming the training is any good), so they know what to do if anyone has a seizure, and they are independent and can look after themselves (though we do have members who require supervision so there is always someone in the workshop. the driving a car bit applies to me, here in the UK, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's medical branch say that a driver MUST be free from any epileptic attack for at least 1 year before driving, the choking on tongue bit, whoever came up with that happening during a fit i don't believe as a few times when i've had a seizure i've bitten my tongue quite hard which in turn made it hard for me to talk properly and eat or drink properly afterwards because of the pain, it's not going to go far if i'm biting really hard on it.
Like i said, some good points, you are right in saying that "A great many people are ignorant about epilepsy"
It appears that one shouldn't make generalised assumptions or statements about epileptics. Every case is different.
Those i know who have had seizures have all been very different. i myself have had a recent EEG but have no results as yet. I instinctively avoid fluorescents and stroby movies etc- ( I cannot explain at the time but in retrospect i feel either doped/aggressive/panicky) Now i just say i have a lower seizure threshold ( part of my new being assertive about my needs policy :smile: ) so i can get unnecessary lighting switched off. Who wants me to chuck a fit in front of them?
I have never seen someone have a seizure, but i think part of my AS is seeing some visually disturbing things as interesting. If i was more NT I might be judgemental about epilepsy as i would have an emotional reflex if i saw someone having a fit.
Being emotional about something slows down learning the facts. Anyone can have a seizure for many reasons. The brain is affected in different ways. It can just happen once or persistently. It seems to be hugely variable.
I wonder if the experience of migraine is comparable? I have had these since i was 9- over 20 years. Each one has been different.
People are interesting, aren't they?
becca
It would help if employers had a basic first aid course available for workers to take every year or so. Then they might know what to do if there is an accident, someone has a stroke, heart attack or seizure. Most people do not know what to do if someone even has a simple cut.
Many work places are required to have some safety training or safety awareness committee. Employers should be made to enforce safety rules and to address safety concerns of workers.
I do think it is a good idea for anyone to work alone, anywhere, regardless of if they have epilepsy or not. At least someone should be checking on them every hour or so if they are alone and they should have a phone or alarm nearby in a non hazardous workplace.
It appears that one shouldn't make generalised assumptions or statements about epileptics. Every case is different.
Correct, every case is different. I have a very mild form of epilepsy, so i don't have fits too often, and my medication stops them at the moment anyway, my carer also works with people who have extremely severe epilepsy who have fits nearly every day, the people who have epilepsy where i work have fits now and again as it's not so severe. The symptoms can be different from person to person too, i think mine are the more common symptoms, though it's been nearly 4 years i can't remember really, and the thoought of having them scares me, it's not a nice experience at all, and in every case that i have had one it has always left me tired and i then sleep it off afterwards. some people dont have full-blown seizures, they may appear to be staring into space, slow to respond, etc, etc. I'm not an expert on epilepsy, only suffer from it so it's hard for me to say on different cases of it.
Either way it's a horrible experience for anyone, that's the thing that's the same in all cases
I had epilepsy as an infant but somehow outgrew it around the age of 2 or so for unknown reasons. That did cause some delays in my development with speech, but didn't affect my intellectual ability at all. I was only diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult because when I was a child, not much was known about the spectrum, and when people thought of autism, it was the low-functioning type.
My brother has epilepsy as well, that was caused from a head injury in a bad car accident at 17. He has had occasions where his driver's license was temporairly suspended because of seizures, but that was for 6 months and for safety reasons only. Fortunately for him, his seizures are the mild kind, and are normally kept under control by medication. He has never faced any discrimination because of his epilepsy, nor have I seen any other epileptic face any discrimination. In college, I have been in classes where someone had a seizure, but the paramedics were called right away.