Epilepsy Action professional members' packs

Epilepsy and Education

Epilepsy Action has produced this manual in partnership with the Educational Service for Physical Disability (ESPD), the Special Educational Needs Support Service (SENSS) in Hull and a specialist paediatric epilepsy nurse. The information is aimed at teachers and support staff for children of school age and is intended to increase their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy and to provide a guide to best practice for the support of students living with the condition.

Up to 80 per cent of students with epilepsy have seizures that can be controlled by medication. The information will help schools in the development of management plans for all students with epilepsy and will be particularly useful for those students whose epilepsy is not under control. The manual also raises awareness of the possible educational implications of epilepsy and suggests strategies to overcome those difficulties.

Epilepsy Explained

This book was written by health care professionals who work with epilepsy every day and is a comprehensive guide to epilepsy and its treatments. It is aimed at health care professionals and people with an interest in the neurological causes and treatments of the condition. The book presents the scientific and medical background of the treatment of epilepsy in an easily understandable fashion - the structure and function of the brain is described in detail and alongside descriptions are over 300 pictures and diagrams to help explain what epilepsy is, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.

There are four sections:

• Epilepsy, A Problem with the Brain;
• Recognising Epilepsy;
• Treating Epilepsy; and
• Epilepsy in Later Life

Epilepsy Explained is not simply an easy-to-read medical text book, it also discusses how people live with epilepsy. It does not offer advice or guidance but instead gives people information to make informed choices about epilepsy.

Epilepsy – A Practical Guide

This manual was written by Epilepsy Action's advice and information officers. The information it contains is based on Epilepsy Action’s publications – the leaflets and fact sheets that we send out to the thousands of people who call or write to our helpline every year.

The manual covers the different types of seizure a person can have and where it is located in the brain, medical terminology, what can trigger seizures, who it can affect, life style changes and treatment as well as some aspects of British law and epilepsy (the Disability Discrimination Act for example). The information is aimed at anyone with a basic interest in epilepsy, for example carers, those with friends or relatives or clients with epilepsy. The subjects are dealt with in an easy to understand manner and are concise enough to be useful to a wide cross-section of professions.