Do you guys work and if you do how do people react to you? If you don't work how do you guys feel?
So far the only job I have worked was babysitting and volunteer tutoring. pretty much I spend my time attending college. So far when trying to find a job, it never has been successful. Usually you have to have some background knowledge in whatever you are applying to. Then the type of environment you are in and releasing that you have Epilepsy/Seizures. I tried once applying for an after school program job in my town I grew up and where I went to school. I figured a lot of people know me and I basically went there for junior high. It will be great. NOT! Once I told them about me my background then the Epilepsy. I was shot down. They said, sorry we already found a member. For some reason we just left the position up. It just didn't feel right, someone doesn't want to know more about you then make an excuse saying they already filled the position. It was obvious because, I mentioned Epilepsy. I am photosensitive and I have mild seizures but, they would often be recognized as something I guess psychiatric or disturbing. Some of my seizures cause me to either have an aura then a staring seizure. That makes me look and act strange ex I get really sheet white pale and stare off at nothing. If you were talking to me I might look at you and say a random word repeatedly but, it would not make sense. I then suddenly snap out of it but I am sweating, tired, and cranky. Mind you after I don't know why nor remember what on earth just happened. Despite someone might of told me that I had a seizure and what I was doing before and after. Later on my memory is wiped. I also have other sudden staring spells w/o auras. That usually consist of me either blankly staring at nothing and blinking. Along with Jerking/twitching/falling to very rare grand-mals. I am hoping maybe after I graduate in getting my BS in Early Childhood I may be able to get a job or have some resource.
So far being a student in college that can't drive, don't go to concerts or drink nor works pretty sucks!
If you are lucky maybe you will find someone who is understanding of your condition and want to actually be a true friend.
I work a FT and PT job and people treat me great! Many of my patients know about my condition and my new VNS surgery scars are visible. We talk about it and I've never had a bad reaction. People are actually very interested and understanding. I do go to work when I shouldn't some times after a bad night of seizures but I'm an addict so I do. It's just my level of normal. And if I feel like someone might react badly I don't tell them a damn thing. It's not like I have a tattoo on my forehead announcing my diagnosis.
SSDI, SSI, etc. are federal plans as subsets of Social Security Agency. However, just like many things in the United States, states can have specific rules (under law) that are constitutionally allowable to be further characterized/limited in who qualifies than the standard federal law dictates. The laws which are exception to this are Constitutional ammendments and laws which state Superior Courts rule to be illegal/unconstitutional variations. MA Superior Court does not view the additions in MA for SSDI and SSI qualification as unconstitutional. The same is the case in some of the other states in the USA. This is no different than many other laws. What is not allowed (has been demonstrated in the last 2 years by rulings by Superior Courts in many states) is the state legislature attempting to further limit a constitutional ammendment or remove a right granted by Supreme Court decision or in a law confirmed by Supreme Court decision, i.e. right to abortion OR right of all registered voters in the USA to vote.
In MA, the only people who qualify for SSDI are those who are so disabled that they cannot do any type of job. My epilepsy and the medical side effects which come along with it do not prevent me from doing any job. My problem is being chosen for one of the narrow group of jobs which I am qualified for and am not limited from doing by my seizures and the triggers that I have.
In the UK we are fairly lucky that companies can't discriminate against people with disabilities.. if they did a court would be chasing them. I work full time with autistic adults and it is tiring. Please don't give up on finding a job. Even if you volunteer somewhere. We are all amazing . 🤗
Employer were worried about number vof seizures in office. Ended up in hospital many times and work never got done so left on long term sick.