Seminar on epilepsy

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 12

Seminar on epilepsy

To try to increase public understanding of epilepsy, the New Zealand EpilepsyAssociation will hold a seminar at the University of Canterbury, on September 18. on the modern management of epilepsy. “For many sufferers of epilepsy, it is. not the disorder but society's reaction

to it that creates the problem,”' said the association's national education officer, Mrs Dorothy Gowans. No fee will be charged for the seminar, which includes the showing of two films, an

address by Professor Graham Goddard, of Otago University, on research into epilepsy. . and discussions about how the disease affects young adults' employment chances and education opportunities. The seminar will have a morning and an afternoon session, and the public may attend either or both. Mrs Gowans said that the limit was 80 people at each session. The association expected an attendance from throughout the South Island. One of the films to be shown, at the morning session, is called “Understanding the Epilepsies,” Only recently completed, it was

made in Christchurch by many volunteers, including a professional film-maker. The film shows the three types of epilepsy — petit mal. which lasts a few seconds; psychomotor, lasting a few minutes: and grand mal. the most frightening ' and most noticeable — and ways of coping with them.

Six copies of the 12-minute film have been made. They «•»< will be distributed to schools, and for other, screenings to ■*-* promote public education about epilepsy.