Preparing for High School

High school can be very different from middle school. Depending on where you went to middle school, high school may be your first experience with changing classes for each and every subject. This means having more teachers and more people to tell about your epilepsy.

In addition, you’ll probably find that you have much more homework – all of those different teachers tend to assign homework on the same night! But, you’ll also have many more opportunities to get involved with activities that you enjoy through after-school clubs and electives.

High school also brings pressures in terms of college exams like the PSAT, SAT and ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. During your last two years of high school, you’ll probably want to think about college applications and scholarship essays, working part or full time or serving your country through an organization like AmeriCorps.

In the face of so much pressure, it’s important to take time for yourself and do whatever it takes to stay healthy. No one ever failed in life because they refused to pull an all-nighter! Remember to get enough sleep, eat healthy and exercise regularly. Who knows, you might just find that taking care of yourself gives you an edge!

Talking to teachers

Did you know that some students with complex partial seizures have received detention or been suspended for having seizures in class? Their teachers didn’t know they had epilepsy and instead, thought they were just acting out!

Whether you’ve had seizures ever since you were a little kid, or they’re something new, you’ll want to let your teachers know that you have epilepsy. Make sure to tell them what your seizures look like (they might assume all seizures mean falling to the ground) and let them know what to do in terms of first aid. You may find it helpful to bring a note from your doctor or have an Epilepsy Foundation brochure (pdf) available for your teachers.

Every teacher is different, but it’s probably best to tell the teacher that you need to talk about something privately after class. Your teacher may ask what causes your seizures and might want to know if you have any advance warning. If you know the answers to these questions, let him or her know. If not, just be honest. If you need any special accommodations such as extended time during tests, let the teacher know and provide the appropriate documentation.

It will be up to you if your teacher tells the rest of the class about your epilepsy or if they allow you to explain epilepsy to other students. If you are still having seizures pretty regularly, you might want to tell people so they know what’s going on. If you haven’t had a seizure for a while, it’s still important to tell your teachers, just in case.

Talking to the school medical staff

If your school has a nurse or medical professional on-site, you’ll want to make sure they know about your epilepsy. If you’re nervous about talking to your teachers or fellow students, the nurse or health professional may be able to help.

The school medical professional will probably know a good deal about epilepsy. As a result, they may ask medical questions that you don’t know the answers to. If you don’t know, just be honest. You might suggest they talk to your parents or your doctor.

Make sure you ask about the school rules about epilepsy drugs:

  • If you have to take some of your medicine while you’re at school, what should you do?
  • If your medicine will be kept in a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office, what should you do if the nurse is busy or out sick?
  • If you have to stay late at school for a club or other activity, will you have access to the medicine?
  • If you start to feel strange and think you may have a seizure, should you go to the nurse’s office?
  • If you have a seizure at school, will they call your parents?

Knowing your rights

Epilepsy is no reason to keep you from any activity at school. Your school should not use epilepsy as an excuse to keep you from playing sports, joining after-school activities, taking field trips or participating fully in your classes. Even if you’re still having seizures, you can still take Driver’s Ed – as long as you stick to the driving simulators and hold off on actual driving until you’re seizure-free.

If you think your school is using epilepsy as a reason for discrimination, talk to your parents. Together, you can decide on an effective course of action, such as talking to the principal or the school board.

IEP/504 Information

Although most students with epilepsy can actively participate in the classroom, some require additional services, such as being allowed to take medication during school hours. Federal law grants students with epilepsy the right to receive supplemental services and, if necessary, special education.

Known as the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, these laws guarantee students with disabilities a “free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive setting.” This means that local school districts must develop and pay for an educational program that is tailored to the individual needs of the student with a disability. In some situations, school districts may be required to pay tuition at a private school or the cost of an outside provider if it cannot provide the necessary services!

To learn more, click here.

Being your own advocate

If you think your school is treating you unfairly because of your epilepsy, talk to your parents. Together, you can decide the best course of action. It is important to speak up if you see a problem. Many times, people may not realize that they are treating you differently.