People with epilepsy can experience difficulties in finding and maintaining regular employment especially in jobs such as those related to driving or working in situations in which it may be unsafe or they might sustain injuries. Employment, apart from earning an income, contributes to personal status, identity, and self-worth.
Misconceptions and negative stereotypes often place people with epilepsy in a position where they have to cope with the fear of stigma and discrimination. These fears can complicate the question of telling your employer you have epilepsy.
However, there are some specific jobs that require employees to disclose their medical conditions and often to undertake a health and fitness check before they start work, or need to fill out medical history forms. These are typically jobs where it is a genuine requirement of the work that the employee be physically fit and able. These medical forms are legal documents and must be filled out to the best of a worker’s knowledge. In these circumstances, a failure to disclose epilepsy can be a legitimate reason for dismissal.
If you choose to voluntarily disclose your epilepsy, your employer is required to keep that information confidential and not disclose that information to anyone else without your permission. However, if you agree, it is often good policy to ensure that direct supervisors are aware of any safety issues or extra accommodations you may need. Although a person’s health is a private issue if people in the workplace are comfortable and aware of your epilepsy the risks posed by any unexpected seizures are reduced.
There are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of gaining and keeping a job in Australia’s competitive employment market.
- Be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a potential or current employee with epilepsy is a good first step. Think about factors such as:
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- Your type of seizures and how often they occur
- Whether there are certain triggers for your seizures
- Time of day seizures occur
- Whether the seizures are controlled by medication
- The risks involved if a seizure occurs in the workplace
If you are sensitive to specific seizure triggers such as stress or sleep deprivation, then a job requiring long hours, high stress or rotating shift work may not be the best choice
APM’s best job hunting tips for people with epilepsy
There are many specific employment agencies that can help you:
