This Is My Issue

Last night I was perusing my satellite guide, and noticed that the fund raiser for autism awareness and education was on Comedy Central.  Despite my daughter's innate hatred for all things related to John Stewart (She loves Stephen Colbert, though), I tuned in for a bit of time.  It was interesting, and of course funny...well, as funny as autism awareness can be.  I found myself becoming bitter, though.  Not towards autism.  No, that would be weird and wrong.  I'm becoming increasingly bitter about why autism is getting all this attention and heightened awareness, but epilepsy gets nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.  Zero.

1 in 110 children will be diagnosed with autism this year.  Compare that to 45,000 children under the age of 18 developing epilepsy every year.  I'm not a big math whiz, so I can't really begin to put the epilepsy numbers into a ratio, but my head is telling me that at the very least, the numbers are comparable. 

I think it is wonderful that autism is getting the attention it deserves, and people are becoming more sensitive to all things related to autism.  You see autism on television shows, with characters dealing with their child's diagnosis (Parenthood, ABC).  You see rock starts advocating for autism awareness/support.  You see movie and television starts making appearances for fund raisers to go towards autism research.  It's all wonderful progress. 

When is it going to be epilepsy's turn, though? We have Greg Grunberg.  Who is that, you might ask?  He was on Heroes on NBC, and his son has epilepsy.  He's a super big advocate for epilepsy awareness, support, etc.  He does admirable work, but let's face it, he's not a big enough star to really shake things up.  We need Angelina Jolie or Miley Cyrus or Matt Damon to start getting the word out.  Seriously!!

I do what I can from here.  I have my sticker on my car.  I talk to my high school students about epilepsy and what it means.  I wear purple on the appropriate days.  I support and advertise November as Epilepsy Awareness Month.  I'm just one person, and starting a movement from almost literal grass roots is a little difficult.

So, this is what I want you to do.  Research epilepsy.  Find out what it means to have it.  Email me.  I'll put my email address down at the bottom.  Follow me on Twitter (@marisarocks) and ask me questions.  Advocacy begins with knowledge, and knowledge needs to be sought after.  We can only gain support and end the stigma if people are willing to put the in the time and energy to make it happen. 

Help me out here, huh?

My Email:

holland.marisa@gmail.com