Advocacy is about empowering vulnerable individuals and protecting their rights, dignity, and freedoms. For people living with epilepsy, everyday challenges can include access to employment, education, transportation, housing, and healthcare. Advocacy works to break down these barriers and ensure equal opportunities for all.
In 2011, Leger Marketing conducted a national survey, The Impact of Epilepsy on Canadians, revealing the many social and health-related obstacles faced by those with epilepsy. The findings confirmed what many already know—people with epilepsy often feel overlooked and misunderstood.
At Epilepsy Ontario, we believe change is possible. Through advocacy, we can challenge stigma, influence policy, and improve lives. Whether it’s in government, law, healthcare, education, or social services, your voice matters. Join us in advocating for a better future for those living with epilepsy—right here in your community.
Why Raise Awareness About Epilepsy?
March is Epilepsy Awareness Month, a time to speak up for a condition that affects over 300,000 Canadians—yet remains largely invisible.
Despite its prevalence, epilepsy is rarely talked about. Misunderstandings and stereotypes persist, often more quickly shared than facts. This lack of awareness fuels fear, discrimination, and stigma. Many people living with epilepsy feel compelled to hide their diagnosis from coworkers, classmates, or friends due to fear of judgment.
You can help by starting conversations and sharing information. Download our brochures and pamphlets, and post them on community bulletin boards, at your workplace, or school.
Together, we can normalize the conversation around epilepsy.
Advocacy in Action: Fighting for Change in Ontario
The epilepsy community is raising its voice—and the government is listening.
Epilepsy Ontario and the Epilepsy Cure Initiative are leading advocacy efforts at Queen’s Park to improve the lives of the 140,000 Ontarians living with epilepsy. At the heart of our campaign is the Provincial Strategy for Epilepsy Care, which calls for:
Standardized, evidence-based treatment across Ontario
Improved access to care and support services
Action to reduce stigma and increase awareness
We’re working directly with MPPs, policy advisors, and health officials to ensure that epilepsy care becomes a provincial priority.
Types of Advocacy
Several forms of advocacy work together to support individuals and drive systemic change:
Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy is when individuals speak or act on their own behalf to express their needs, protect their rights, and strive for equal treatment. It’s rooted in self-worth and the belief that your voice can make a difference.
Citizen Advocacy
This is a one-on-one partnership between a vulnerable person (the consumer) and a committed advocate. The advocate provides emotional support, friendship, and speaks up on the individual’s behalf when needed. This relationship is built on trust and mutual respect, with the advocate treating the individual’s needs as if they were their own.
Systemic Advocacy
Systemic advocacy focuses on changing policies, structures, or practices that negatively impact groups of people. It aims to address flaws in institutions and ensure that systems uphold the rights, freedoms, and dignity of everyone.
Legislative Advocacy
This form of advocacy takes place at the governmental level. It involves lobbying and informing Members of Parliament or legislative bodies to pass or amend laws that protect and support vulnerable populations.
Through advocacy—at all levels—we can build a more inclusive and equitable society for those living with epilepsy. Let’s work together to make sure their voices are heard.
