Children & Youth Services

Children and Youth, Epilepsy Toronto Children, Epilepsy.

ABOUT

Our Children and Youth Services Department understands that young people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders and their families have many questions and concerns, and we’re here for you.

Seizures do not only affect the individual experiencing the seizures, but can impact the entire family unit. Our goal is to support and empower your entire family by providing you with information, education, and various support services.

If you are new to Epilepsy Toronto and would like to access our services, please complete an intake form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

WHAT WE OFFER:

We provide individualized epilepsy education for parents and caregivers, as well as interactive and age-appropriate education sessions for children and siblings. Sessions cover epilepsy fundamentals, seizure types, responding to seizures, safety, strategies for self-management, and psychosocial impact of epilepsy.We recognize that epilepsy is more than seizures. We provide support for the whole family to understand and cope with the impact of epilepsy on young people and their support network. Individual short-term counselling is available for children/youth with epilepsy, caregivers, and siblings. Some concerns that can be addressed through counselling may include the psychosocial impact of epilepsy (e.g., stress, anxiety, mood),  safety, independence, self-management, developing coping strategies, parenting for a child with a health condition, self-advocacy skills, and coping with healthcare experiences. We also facilitate referrals when client needs extend beyond the scope of our services. Virtual groups run regularly throughout the year and are facilitated by an Epilepsy Toronto counsellor. Check the events calendar for meeting dates. 

To join any of our support groups, please first complete an intake form to request a session with one of our counselors. We will get back to you to schedule your first session.

Click here for to complete the intake form.Workshops are facilitated by an Epilepsy Toronto counsellor and are offered virtually or in person within the City of Toronto. The interactive classroom workshop provides age-appropriate information related to epilepsy, seizure first aid, and inclusion of students with epilepsy. The teacher workshop covers basic epilepsy information, seizure types, seizure first aid, supporting students with epilepsy in the classroom, and resources for further learning.We offer fun programs and social events throughout the year to promote peer connection and offer an opportunity for children, youth, and families to meet others with shared experiences. Our workshops provide education and empowerment to those living with epilepsy and their caregivers by enhancing knowledge and confidence in managing epilepsy and related issues (e.g., school concerns). To find out about upcoming events, please visit our events calendar or subscribe to the Child and Youth Services Email Newsletter to get the latest updates about workshops, events, and programs.We are proud to offer an annual scholarship competition for post-secondary students living with epilepsy. To learn more about scholarship opportunities please click here.We provide support to clients in identifying helpful epilepsy-related resources (e.g. seizure monitoring devices, camp programs), accessing and navigating services in the medical, education, early intervention, and mental health service systems, completing forms, assistance with funding packages, advocacy, and finding community-based services and resources. If you are an Epilepsy Toronto client, reach out to your Children and Youth Services counsellor to access this support. New clients, please complete an intake form and we will respond to your request as soon as possible.

HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

UPLIFT                         

UPLIFT stands for Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts.

You may not be formally diagnosed with anxiety or depression, but find yourself stressed and overwhelmed by the impact of seizures on a family member who you care for. This evidence-based 8-week mindfulness-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)  group for adult caregivers impacted by epilepsy and depression/anxiety can help you. For more information on UPLIFT, please click HERE.

TEACHING AWARENESS THROUGH PUPPETRY

Teaching Awareness through Puppetry (TAP) is an educational outreach program that is available to run workshops in classrooms and schools to teach students about awareness and acceptance of differences. TAP uses life size puppets to deliver our workshops. The puppets help break down barriers allowing to facilitate healthy, rich conversations about questions the children might not feel comfortable asking a real person. TAP has a workshop dedicated to epilepsy. The students and teachers learn about seizure first aid and what it is like to be a person living with epilepsy.

Email TAP to find out more about our program and how they can help your school be a kinder, more inclusive community: [email protected].

LIVE WITH LILY!

Live with Lily! is an online children’s show created in collaboration with Teaching Awareness through Puppetry and Epilepsy Toronto. Each episode of Live with Lily! provides valuable information, support, and community for children impacted by epilepsy in a fun and interactive way.
Check out Live with Lily’s Instagram @live_with_lily for short and fun episodes that can help teach the children in your life all about epilepsy.
You can find Live with Lily’s Resources here.
You can also watch all the past episodes of Live with Lily! here on Youtube or here on Facebook.

RESOURCES

For Parents and Caregivers

For Teachers

For Youth