Disability or No Disability, I Can Achieve My Dreams

Dec 3

December 3rd is recognized as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. To give you a brief introduction to myself, I am the public relations and web director here at the Impossible Project, which I feel personally connected to due to the fact that I have faced several years of uncontrolled epileptic seizures causing me to face challenges that seemed quite impossible at times. Due to my condition, I have identified as disabled, and would like to take the opportunity to share my story with you today. I share this story because I hope to help raise awareness of the challenges and barriers those with disabilities, and conditions such as epilepsy face. That said, I hope to inspire that regardless of those challenges, we are all capable of amazing, or seemingly impossible things whether we identify as disabled or not - in my case I have achieved things even some of my faculty and medical team thought I could not. In addition, I would like to share some amazing resources and support for those facing epilepsy.

Stay strong, because the impossible is possible!

About epilepsy:

While many of you have likely heard of epilepsy, you may or may not think of it as a disability or fully understand the condition. In fact, it is often considered an invisible disability and depending upon the cause it may come with other disabilities besides the seizures. However, depending on the situation and seizure control, some people who have it might not consider it a disability at all. All that said, I think it is important to consider how common epilepsy truly is. Although you may not see it, 1 out of 100 people in Canada have epilepsy, and based on 2013 and 2014 it was estimated that 300,000 Canadian’s are living with epilepsy and approximately 54 Canadian’s are newly diagnosed every day. This condition can present with a variety of different seizures that can vary in frequency, form, and duration, which is often misrepresented on media by showing only one seizure form/type. Unfortunately, there is often stigma associated with the condition, and barriers for those with a diagnosis. Some of these barriers include getting an education, gaining employment, and gaining respect due to the stigma and myths associated with the condition.

My story:

Starting in 2017, just before I began my undergraduate studies, I began having what are known as focal aware seizures with some motor symptoms of lip smacking. Due to my own lack of awareness of seizure types, it took me quite some time to even recognize that these events could be seizures. Unfortunately, these were uncontrolled by my medication, leaving me exhausted and mentally drained. Personally, I hid my diagnosis in many situations due to negativity. Even in my academic career, I was warned by a faculty member not to raise awareness about my condition or declare it with the disability office as this label would impact me. Feelings of negativity and isolation loomed over my head. Regardless of my struggles, and even suggestions from multiple faculty and staff members to postpone my studies, I refused to quit.

By the end of my degree in 2021, I had faced discrimination and doubt by many people both in my studies and personal life, but I finished my final term with a full course load and a term average of 90%. It felt like a huge academic and personal accomplishment given the fact I was facing as many as ten seizures in a day.

My determination and mindset will always drive me forward, regardless of the hurdles I must overcome.

In 2022, I decided to apply for a master’s degree in sustainability management at the University of Waterloo, even though I still faced the same challenges. As my first term approached, a specialist at LHSC identified that my seizure activity was coming from a tumor in my left temporal lobe. I was quickly referred for surgery to remove the lesion from my brain just weeks before my studies began. As some members of my healthcare team supported me in starting my studies, others voiced hesitation about it. Regardless, I began my studies while still attending speech and occupational therapy to aid in my recovery. Since then, I have also been assisted by specialists at Epilepsy SCO to help me learn and utilize memory and attention strategies. They, along with my medical team and new friends made in the epilepsy unit have helped me to embrace my condition regardless of any stigma attached to it.

Today it is less than four months since my brain surgery, and just days from the end of my first term. I must celebrate this as another academic and personal accomplishment, as I am about to successfully complete my first two courses. During these first few months I have felt my condition and skills improving constantly, and my grades reflect it. I am now also able to work and volunteer in addition to my studies. I cannot wait to see what goals I can achieve next.

Disability or no disability - I can achieve my dreams and so can you!