Tag Archives: epilepsy and employment

UPLIFT for Employment

Job search got you down?
Anxious about that upcoming job interview?
Do you have a job but you’re worried about disclosing your disability?
Does the thought of having a seizure on the job stress you out?

Then UPLIFT for Employment is for you!

UPLIFT is a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy group for adults with epilepsy who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or stress, with a focus on employment. The hour-long skill-building group will be hosted online for 8 consecutive weeks.

This free program will guide you through a series of workshops designed to help you manage the stressful areas of your life and learn new skills in self-management. The program will start on Wednesday, September 20, and run weekly until November 8.

Space is limited, so please be sure to reserve your spot now! To do so, please contact Employment Services Manager Carter Hammett at: [email protected].

UPLIFT for Employment

Then UPLIFT for Employment is for you!

Space is limited, so please be sure to reserve your spot now! To do so, please contact Employment Services Manager Carter Hammett at: [email protected].

Disclosure Dilemma Webinar

The topic of disclosure is often a difficult choice for people with invisible conditions like epilepsy to make.

Who do I disclose my disability to?

What are the consequences, if any, of disclosure?

Are there any laws to help me in this regard? How do I disclose and when?

These are just some of the questions that will be explored in this informative panel discussion followed by a live Q&A that offers three distinct points of view from a job seeker, a recruiter, and a lawyer. Special guests will offer their unique spin on a challenging subject!

Epilepsy Toronto’s Employment Services Manager, Carter Hammett moderates this Facebook Live event, which will include an interactive Q&A with the panel. Join him at 2 pm on Thursday, November 5th on the Epilepsy Toronto Facebook Page.

About the Panel

Jessica De Marinis is a staff lawyer at ARCH Disability Law Centre in Toronto, Ontario who practices human rights and disability rights law. Jessica joined ARCH in August 2017. Prior to working at ARCH, she practiced employment and human rights law in Hamilton, ON. Jessica has appeared before various courts and administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and the Ontario Superior Court.

Shonet D’souza, BHRM, CHRL, is a Human Resources Specialist, Diversity, Inclusion & Invisible Disabilities Advocate, Speaker, Writer. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader with over a decade of people and culture experience. She is currently a Talent Strategist at Powerhouse Talent Inc. where she partners with organizations to develop their employer brand, consistently market their recruitment strategy and attract the right talent. Besides her work in HR, she is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and invisible disabilities. She is a speaker, writer and guest contributor to various online publications. Shonet is an Epilepsy Ambassador at Epilepsy Toronto and Global Epilepsy Exchange and is also part of the United Way Greater Toronto Speakers Bureau.

Alyson Silk is a young professional and graduate of Queen’s University with diverse experience studying and working in Accounting, Data Analysis, Biology, Mathematics, and Statistics. Since she was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2017 and has faced numerous challenges in adapting to a life with this condition, including the pursuit of a career in finance and returning to school. She is currently a job-seeker navigating the hiring process as a person with a disability for the first time. Concerned with tackling the big questions of “when” and “how” to disclose, she has been working closely with Epilepsy Toronto to develop a disclosure plan and prepare for career success in the quickly-evolving modern workforce. She is excited to share her experience and learn from others to address the obstacles presented by disclosure of an invisible disability.

Epilepsy Employment Group (EEG)

Epilepsy Employment Group (EEG) is a Job Search Support Group for people living with epilepsy. This group is meeting online via Zoom regularly every Thursday afternoon. Meetings will alternate between a featured topic and a general discussion. Join in and meet some new people, swap points of view, and learn a thing or two!

What makes EEG support groups unique is that participants determine the content and staff respond to their input. Whether discussing memory, stress, accommodations, disclosure, and any other of a number of topics, EEG offers a program in a safe space that’s informative, practical, and supportive.

overhead view of people sitting around a table with a large paper in the middle saying "EEG A Job Search Support Group"

This group is hosted by our Employment Services Department. For more information on how to join this workshop, please speak with your Epilepsy Toronto counsellor or complete an intake form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.