Save the Date: Tour De Bottoms on September 18

Join us on the Shelby Bottoms Greenway in Nashville as we bike ride and raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation Middle and West Tennessee on Saturday, September 18, 2010. To register as a rider, visit http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1872620. Registration fee per rider is $30. Kids 12 and under are free. For $50 or more raised, receive an official Tour de Bottoms T-shirt. Raise more money and be eligible for more prizes. After you register online, you can get set up to ask for pledges from your family and friends at the active.com website. Or if you'd rather ask for pledges face-to-face, you can print out a pledge sheet at this link: Tour_de_Bottoms_Pledge_Sheet.doc If you'd like to share a flyer about the event with your family, friends or co-workers, you can download it here at Tour_de_Bottoms_Flyer.doc. If you're interested in volunteering or being a sponsor, click on "Contact Us" on the menu bar above and let us know how you'd like to participate. Or you may call (615) 269-7091 or (800) 244-0768 for more information.

Sumner County Support Group Re-Launches on August 5 in Gallatin

Please join us for the re-launch of the Sumner County Epilepsy Support Group, now meeting in Gallatin, on the first Thursday of each month, beginning August 5, 2010 at the Gallatin Public Library, 123 East Main Street, Meeting Room 1. We will be meeting from 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. People with epilepsy and their family and friends are all welcome and you do not have to be a resident of Sumner County to attend. There is no cost and registration is not required, but we always appreciate if you let us know you’ll be there. Call Patty St. Clair at 615-269-7091, 800-244-0768 or e-mail .

In-Service Training for Schools

The Epilepsy Foundation offers free in-service training for school personnel that covers seizure recognition and first aid, as well as the impact of epilepsy, medications and surgery on learning and behavior throughout the school year. The 1 hour presentation offers an opportunity for the staff to ask questions and includes the showing of a DVD that shows actual seizures. Because a teacher’s behavior can make a substantial difference in how other students react to the seizure episode and how the student with seizures copes with his/her condition, we feel it is very important to educate school personnel about how to respond appropriately so that the other students will be more understanding and everyone will have a positive school experience. This program can also be tailored for school nurses and include information on Diastat. To schedule this free in-service for your staff in middle Tennessee, contact Patty St. Clair at or (800) 244-0768 or in west Tennessee, contact Judy Dorris at or (866) 650-0500.

IEP Tips for Parents

If you have a child with epilepsy, your child may be entitled to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires public schools to develop an IEP for every student with a disability who is found to meet the federal and state requirements for special education. The IEP refers both to the educational program to be provided to a child with a disability and to the written document that describes that educational program. If you have an IEP meeting scheduled at your child's school this spring or fall, you may want to visit http://www.kidstogether.org/IEP.htm first for helpful tips on how to prepare and what to expect during the meeting to get the accommodations your child may need for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). If you have any questions about IEPs, you may contact Brent Lokey in our Shelbyville office at 931-684-5222 or 800-697-3368.

Community Education Presentations

Because of the likelihood that you will know someone who has epilepsy or see someone having a seizure, the Epilepsy Foundation is committed to educating children and adults about seizure recognition and first aid, and how to best assist a person having a seizure. We believe that by raising the level of awareness and teaching the general public about epilepsy, we can help reduce the fear and stigma associated with the disorder. If your school, company, or organization would like to have a free educational presentation, please click "Contact Us" on the menu bar above.

The Mission of the Epilepsy Foundation Middle and West Tennessee

For the past 31 years, the mission of the Epilepsy Foundation Middle and West Tennessee has been to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research. It is estimated that 162,000 Tennesseans have epilepsy. We are here to help with education and awareness and above all, hope. To help us continue to provide our programs and services, please consider making a donation to the Epilepsy Foundation Middle and West Tennessee today. Click on the "Donations" button on the menu bar above to learn how.