Twenty-20’s Epilepsy Awareness Group

The “Twenty-20s” initiative was created in July 2014, after twenty young adults from Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the United States of America gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in the “Young Adult Epilepsy Summit” organized by the North America International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the Epilepsy Foundation of America Inc.

The summit event comprised of a weekend filled with workshops and discussions regarding issues associated with epilepsy, including the stigmas and misconceptions amongst the general public regarding this condition. As a direct result, ideas were gathered to develop a social media initiative that would raise awareness about epilepsy through the sharing of personal stories of those affected with epilepsy.

The aim of this social media project is to change the image of people coping with epilepsy by portraying how these twenty young individuals in their twenties have overcome struggles and have become successful in their own ways. We want to empower and inspire other young adults who have also been affected by epilepsy to pursue their dreams despite adversity.

The work of the “Twenty-20s” continues as a collaboration between Canadian Epilepsy Alliance and Epilepsy Foundation of America with project funding from International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE).

To learn more about the “Twenty-20s” and support this project, please follow them:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Twenty-20s-Epilepsy-Awareness-Group/1500387936869828

Twitter: https://twitter.com/twenty_20s

If you would like to contact them, please e-mail:  twenty20sepilepsy@gmail.comIn October 2015 Epilepsy Toronto hosted a weekend meeting of the Twenty-20s Epilepsy Awareness Group.  This weekend provided an opportunity for group members to reconnect and discuss ideas about how to move their goal of raising public awareness about epilepsy forward and how to promote Purple Day in their home communities. They also told their stories on camera; the videos will be released as part of the Twenty-20s social media activities.