>>>Well looks like I'm going back to step 1 again. I seem to find a job then when they call me in for performance issues its always "you're to slow or I noticed you having problems, seizure activity" I was diagnosed at 15 but when I was a 11/2 had a high fever resulting in convulsions, encephalitis, and paralyzed on my right side. Never got full use of my right side but able to use it. At TJMaxx I scan all items on markdown and they are now telling me I'm not fast enough. I hear this so often it's making me sick, and if it's not that they say I saw you spacing out from a seizure incident. I told the woman who hired me I had a slow right hand and she said she noticed it. I also mentioned I took meds but didn't say for what. Why let them know if they didn't ask.
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They cannot openly not hire you if you have a disability. But they can find another reasons if they wish. Sad but true....
My suggestion - tell Human Resources about it, then you have fulfilled your obligation to tell your employer because if you do not tell them, I think they CAN let you go for misrepresentation on your application (not sure of this). Besides, H.R. should know about it just in case...
But you do not need to tell your supervisor or those around you especially if your SZ's are well controlled. (if they are not, you are probably stuck with telling those you work with especially if you have grand mal) To your supervisor about the "slow hand" you can say you are on meds for migraines - same meds as those for EP... but migraines are more socially acceptable..
NOTE: if seizures happen often then you'd better tell... but many are well controlled with meds --- think if you had diabetes, you don't have to wear that on your sleeve (you'd probably tell HR about it but not those around you unless you wanted to). Look around you in the workplace - most are on meds for something like blood pressure or whatever but they don't even have to tell their employers... Why should EP be any different...
To address Millie's question, "how do you educate folks about EP if you do not tell them?" Well, trouble is they DON'T get educated - they just look at you in a different and negative manner. And there is NO WAY to educate them around that one. Like if you are sitting there staring into space they will ask if you are having a SZ etc. Stuff like that. We are not so far removed from the times when folks with EP were housed in insane asylums along with folks with Parkinson's also... Unfortunately, to many folks ANYTHING awry with the brain is some kind of mental disorder ** sigh ** That's just reality.
hugs,
Sue
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