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Living With
Epilepsy
Epilepsy &
Employment
Most people with epilepsy are able to work in the full range of jobs. Neither the condition itself nor the treatments for it will affect their ability to work. There are people with epilepsy serving successfully in every walk of life.

Unfortunately, epilepsy is often still stigmatized and people face discrimination. Sometimes people are reluctant to tell their employers they have epilepsy or seizures because they learn through bitter experiences that it can be used against them.

People with epilepsy can face significant challenges in the workplace, and many advocacy efforts are underway to increase the employment and success rates for people with epilepsy in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted to prohibit disability-based discrimination. Many provisions of the ADA have particular impact on people with epilepsy, including inclusion for safety-sensitive jobs and reasonable accommodation.

For individuals who are unable to work, our Case Managers are here to support you with Social Security Disability paperwork.

Pursuing Career Goals Despite Epilepsy Challenges

Today people with epilepsy are working at hundreds of different kinds of jobs from one end of the country to the other. Many of these people have excellent seizure control, but not all of them do. Having occasional (or even fairly frequent) seizures may make your job hunt more difficult, but not impossible.

In fact, there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of getting a job. If you are just entering the job market, decide what sort of job you want and take a long look at the qualifications you’ll need to reach that goal. The better qualified you are, the better your chances of success.

Seizure Control

  • If your seizure control is not sufficient for driving, consider occupations not requiring driving or hazardous situations. Consider work-from-home opportunities, especially those related to the growing Internet economy and computer skills.
  • If your seizure control is reliable, most jobs should be accessible to you. Learning to discuss epilepsy confidently with potential employers can be beneficial.

Disclosing Epilepsy With a Potential Employer

  • Disclosure of epilepsy is not always necessary and is up to you.
  • Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers may not ask health-related questions until a job offer is made.
  • Be confident, well-informed, and relaxed when discussing epilepsy to reassure the employer.
  • Explain the control and history of your epilepsy, including seizure frequency and impact on job performance.

Your Rights

  • Consider legal advice if you feel unfairly treated due to epilepsy.
  • The ADA prohibits discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
  • People with epilepsy are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act for employment and leave considerations.

Safety-Sensitive Jobs

  • Many people with epilepsy successfully work in high-risk jobs.
  • Depending on seizure control, a person with epilepsy may not pose any greater risk than a person without epilepsy.
  • Federal regulations may limit job roles for safety-sensitive positions.

Permissible Medical Exams and Inquiries

  • Before a job offer, employers cannot ask about disabilities or make inquiries likely to reveal disabilities.
  • After employment begins, any disability-related inquiries or medical exams must be job-related and consistent with business necessity.

Financially Surviving a Leave of Absence

  • Explore options for managing a leave of absence due to seizure disorder, including financial considerations and benefits.

Changing Jobs

  • Changing jobs may be unrelated to epilepsy or due to seizure disorder considerations.
  • When considering a new job, think about transportation, healthcare, disability insurance, and retirement funds.
Driving with Epilepsy in Florida

Florida requires drivers to have been 6 months seizure free and, if taking medications, demonstrate that they are compliant with taking them – this requires a blood test showing the anti-epilepsy drug to be in the effective range. Often, an EEG is required, and a form will need to be completed by their neurologist. (Reference: https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09594)

Background: Applicants or licensed drivers must be seizure free for a period of two years before having their license issued or reinstated, but may apply at the end of six months to be reconsidered by the Board for issuance or reinstatement if they are under regular medical supervision and seizure free.

Applicants or licensed drivers with “petit mal,” absence seizures, and partial seizures with complex symptomology will also be subject to these guidelines. An applicant or licensed driver with an isolated seizure with a normal electroencephalogram may be reconsidered by the Board at the end of three months.

Medical Report Form: Applicants or licensed drivers must present a Medical Report, HSMV 72423.

Click here to download a copy of this form.

Applicants or licensed drivers who have been approved for license issuance or reinstatement after being seizure free for six months may be required to submit follow-up medical information at periodic intervals as recommended by the Board.

Applicants or licensed drivers who have had chronic recurring seizures (or have been treated for such for one year) and who have anti-epileptic medications discontinued will not be licensed to drive during the period of drug withdrawal and for a period of three months following complete cessation of treatment. If the applicant or licensed driver has seizures during this withdrawal period, licensing may be considered after a three-month seizure free interval or upon return to adequate therapy.

If there is a question about the seizure type or the medication the applicant or licensed driver is prescribed, it is the prerogative of the Board to question the physician further to clarify the nature of the seizures. Blood levels below therapeutic levels are to be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants or licensed drivers with only non-epileptic seizures or chronic nocturnal seizures will be considered on an individual basis.

One of our Board Members, Andrew Hibbert, a Criminal Defense Attorney in Sarasota, FL, is offering his services for free to any of our clients regaining their driver’s license.

This service is available for any of our clients who cannot drive and need a ride to a clinic or diagnostic testing appointment.

http://www.seniortransport.org/