Comments on: Is College an Option for those Kids with Epilepsy?

By: Priscilla

Priscilla — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:36:56 +0000

Thank you for this website. I have been looking for such an informative link for almost a year. Im a mother with a 19 year old in Africa where there are no facilities for higher education for epileptics. The smallest and flexible colleges are very expensive. Should I stop looking and give up pn my son? NO someone please lead me to a school that will accept my son.

By: Alysse

Alysse — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:23:18 +0000

Anne,
Thank you for writing…
Have you looked into a tutor? Or, perhaps a community college or a college that has courses for special needs students? They are out there–there are also some great online courses that he could complete–to supplement his college studies.
And, you might want to consider the fact that it probably will indeed take him longer to complete college if he’s having some health issues. I would contact the Epilepsy Foundation of America–they might have some other suggestions. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/children/education/
They are great to work with.
All the very best,
Alysse M.

By: Alysse

Alysse — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:13:18 +0000

Emily…
Thank you for the comments, and for telling your story!
GREAT suggestions too…I think it also helped that you were open and honest about your epilepsy with your professors, and they were grateful for that!
All the very best to you,
Alysse M.

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:26:49 +0000

With epilepsy I managed to go to college- perhaps it took me a bit longer than others but I still graduated. In the middle of all this I had surgery twice (LTL so I had a difficult time with speech and language). Just make sure to use all accommodations possible like extended time on tests. I was able to use a recorder in class, and in general my professors were very nice and took it into consideration when grading exams (perhaps I couldn’t remember a simple word so I would do my best to describe it, almost like “dancing” around the keyword that I just couldn’t remember).
I really think that anyone with epilepsy can get through college. Perhaps with a little more work then the normal college kid gives but they will make it.

By: anne donato

anne donato — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:46:44 +0000

I have a 19 year old son who has completed 5 courses with success. he has not however been able to tackle algebra. He has focal cortical dysplasia and i would love to hear from anyone familiar with this type of epilepsy. his doc claimed the affected area of the brain is the area where math reasoning would take place? my hopes for college for him are not high. He is not signed up for the fall semester. any ideas?

By: Melissa Brauninger

Melissa Brauninger — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:18:16 +0000

Yes, you can go to college with Epilepsy. I had to go part time but I did it. My neuro sent a letter to the college that said because of medication and the side effects, and he stated all the side effects*short term memory loss, etc,that accomaditions must be met. I had longer times to take test so that I could have more time to remember what I had studied. So even if you have to take one or two courses to achieve you goal of getting your degree you are still getting your degree in the end. It took me 11 years and I have a Bachelors degree now. My major is Business with a concentration in Human Resources.

By: Roxanne Davenport

Roxanne Davenport — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:14:06 +0000

Look up Joyce Bender on Facebook. She might be able to help. She does alot for epilepsy and other disabilities. She even goes to Washington,D.C. to get thiings done for epilepsy.