Epilepsy Toronto's Employment Services 

Purple Day for Epilepsy

Epilepsy Toronto

March 26th is Purple Day for Epilepsy. It's a day to raise awareness for epilepsy and to celebrate the courage of people who live with it.

Childhood cancer survivors sometimes develop epilepsy, especially survivors who had brain tumours. This is caused by the tumour itself, scars on the brain after tumour removal or the effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Having epilepsy can make it hard for survivors to find and keep a job. Did you know Epilepsy Toronto has an employment service that can help?

Carter Hammett, the Employment Services Manager with Epilepsy Toronto, explains what the program offers.

"Finding and keeping a job can be difficult when you are living with an unpredictable condition like epilepsy. As well as seizures, there are side effects from medications, memory problems, living with other conditions including mental health concerns and the lack of an appropriate support system.

Plus there are issues like disclosure of disability to employers, asking for accommodations and living with the stigma that comes with living with an invisible disability.

That’s why Epilepsy Toronto (www.epilepsytoronto.org) has an employment service just for job seekers with epilepsy. We offer career planning, job placement and coaching, counselling, education and advocacy.

The first step is creating a profile that matches your unique needs. This includes understanding your seizure type, frequency, medication and management, and then matching that information with an employment profile that includes, goals, skills, experience, education, values, barriers and other variables.

Once clear and realistic goals are set, you move into the job development phase—putting your action plan into action! You’ll find services such as resume writing, interview preparation and networking, as well as advocacy, environmental assessments and employer education.

Our service also offers other supports, including a monthly job search workshop series; speed mentoring—rapid-fire timed, micro-counselling sessions offered to job seekers by corporate volunteers; and a job search support group that’s offered twice a year in eight-week sessions.

If you’re interested in learning more, please check out our web page or book an appointment for a group orientation, which takes place the second Monday of every month."

Don’t live in Toronto? To learn more about epilepsy and employment, be sure to check out the excellent resource, www.epilepsyatwork.com. Or, to learn about employment services supporting job seekers with disabilities in your community, contact Ontario 211.

Carter Hammett can be reached at carter@epilepsytoronto.org

 

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