Who We Are
Our Mission
Empowering Epilepsy connects people with epilepsy to experts and peers for education, care, and friendship. We anchor a caring community that empowers our members and their loved ones to better understand and manage their treatment plan throughout their epilepsy journey.
From Our Founder:
Empowering Epilepsy was founded in 2014 by Leigh Goldie, M.Ed.. At 8 years old, Leigh was struck by a car while walking home from school, which caused a traumatic brain injury. Soon after, Leigh began having rising feelings in her chest that she couldn't describe. At age 12, she was referred to a neurologist and was diagnosed with then called Complex Partial Seizures- now called Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures.
Seizures affected her life in a variety of ways. She had a difficult time in school learning and remembering new information. Never knowing when a seizure would take place caused anxiety and embarrassment, as most people in her life knew nothing about epilepsy. Leigh didn't believe in herself or her abilities because every time she had a seizure, people questioned why the seizures were still happening.
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Empowering Epilepsy is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity organization that focuses specifically on epilepsy education to help people with epilepsy in all areas that Leigh felt left behind when living with uncontrolled seizures. Our mission illustrates our drive to help people with epilepsy learn how to better manage their seizures, realize they are not alone when living with seizures, and take back the control of their life. We walk with you through your epilepsy journey, teaching you how to provide doctors with the data they need to make a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan sooner.
Why Empowering Epilepsy
Despite the fact that 1 in 26 people will eventually be diagnosed with epilepsy at some point in their lifetime - the vast majority of those with epilepsy feel isolated and alone. They have never met or talked with anyone else who also experiences epilepsy, and they find few resources and help outside of their neurologist’s office.
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Empowering Epilepsy was founded in 2014 by people with epilepsy, for people with epilepsy, to meet this dire need for learning, emotional, and disease management support.
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We strive to help people with epilepsy find proactive ways to lessen their seizures, meet others who are also living with epilepsy, listen and speak with experts, and discover resources and opportunities to empower their lives. Our ultimate goal is to anchor a global community of support and learning for our members and their loved ones.
Our Vision
Our Programs
To enable people with epilepsy to take charge of their lives.
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Our programs include free or low cost conferences, epilepsy education and lifestyle guidance sessions with peers and expert interactions, age based support groups, and community building events. We collaborate with epilepsy and other medical professionals from Level 3 and 4 Epilepsy Centers around the United States, as well as dietitians, social workers, and other specialists who can offer further lifestyle support services.
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Finally we collaborate with, and educate community organizations about how to better identify and serve the needs of people living with epilepsy.
Our center in Cleveland hosts a variety of in-person events for both locals and visitors. However, most of our offerings are offered online for participants around the country and the world. A sample of events includes:
Bowling, Pottery Painting, Yoga, and other family friendly events to build community
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St. Patrick’s day Leprechaun Chase walk/run
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Educational Conferences
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Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy education
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Community events to promote Epilepsy Awareness Month in November
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Age-Based Virtual Support Groups with Q & A sessions led by epilepsy specialists from Level 4 Epilepsy Centers
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Booths at health and wellness fairs around the country to empower people with epilepsy and educate the general public about this disease