Seizure Smart at School and Childcare

About 1 in 100 people have epilepsy. Although people can develop epilepsy at any age, children have the highest diagnosis rate. Some parents of children with epilepsy choose not to disclose their child’s condition to their school due to stigma and fear that their child will be underestimated in class or face discrimination. It’s possible that there will be a time when you’ll have a child with epilepsy in your classroom and you won’t know it.

Presentations are available at locations in Ottawa and the surrounding rural areas (Lanark County, Renfrew County, Prescott-Russell County, and Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Counties). If you have questions about availability in your area, please contact us.

Presentations are available virtually or in person (weather permitting).

For Teachers and Childcare Workers

Epilepsy 101

Length: 60 minutes

If a child has a convulsive seizure in your classroom, would you know how to help? Would you be able to identify a non-convulsive seizure and know how to respond? Do you know enough about epilepsy to talk to other students and calm their fears if they see a classmate have a seizure?

Epilepsy Ottawa offers a free Seizure Smart: Epilepsy 101 presentation for educators. This presentation that can help teachers learn how to support students with epilepsy, identify different types of seizures, provide seizure first aid for convulsive and non-convulsive seizures, and create a safer classroom for children with epilepsy. The presentation can reduce anxiety teachers may have about teaching a child with epilepsy in their classroom.

Epilepsy Ottawa can provide Seizure Smart: Epilepsy 101 presentation at staff meetings or on PD Days. Everyone who attends receives a Seizure Smart Training certificate of completion.

For Students

Witnessing a seizure can be scary; help students feel prepared.

  • Age Group: Kindergarten-Grade 2

    Length: 20-30 Minutes

    Goals: Reduce fear if the children see a classmate, teacher, or someone in their community have a seizure. Create a more accepting environment for people with epilepsy in the classroom.

    Seizure Smart: Introducing Epilepsy is a free presentation for young students featuring the storybook “Violet’s Special Day” which tells the story of a girl who has a seizure at her birthday party. It introduces the topic of epilepsy and seizures, describes what a convulsive seizure looks like, and emphasizes empathy toward someone having a seizure.

    In addition to reading this story, the Epilepsy Educator reviews introductory facts about epilepsy, what the most common types of seizures look like, how children can help someone having a seizure, and how to create a welcoming environment for someone with epilepsy.

  • Age Group: Grades 3-6

    Length: 45-60 minutes

    Thinking About Epilepsy teaches children about the human brain, epilepsy, and how to help someone having a seizure. This program promotes inclusion and empathy, reducing teasing. It is appropriate and useful for any classroom with students in Grades 3-6, whether or not there is a child with epilepsy in that class.

    This material covers general epilepsy and seizure information. If there is a child in the class with epilepsy, the other students do not need to know that unless the child and their parents wish to share the information with the class.

    Seizure Smart: Thinking About Epilepsy is tied to the Grade 5 Science and Health Curriculum:

    Grade 5 Science Curriculum Expectations

    Investigate the structure and function of major organs of various human body systems;

    Identify the structure and function of human body systems;

    Demonstrate an understanding of the interactions within and between systems

    Grade 5 Health Curriculum Expectations

    Demonstrate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

  • Age Group: Grade 7 and up

    Length: 45-60 minutes

    Epilepsy 101 provides youth with an understanding of the human brain, epilepsy, seizures, and how to help someone who is having a seizure. This program promotes inclusion and empathy, reducing teasing. It is appropriate and useful for any classroom with students in Grades 7 and up, whether or not there is a child with epilepsy in that class.

    This material covers general epilepsy and seizure information. If there is a child in the class with epilepsy, the other students do not need to know that unless the child and their parents wish to share the information with the class.