November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and in honor of the occasion, Kirkwood Student Life set up an informational display in Iowa Hall near the Information Desk.
According to The Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures.
The display features “fun” facts about epilepsy and purple ribbon pins that students can take with them.
Kirkwood Community College has not had anything like this in recent memory, according to Seth VanderTuig, senior director of student engagement and campus life. The college also has no clubs related to epilepsy.
According to The Epilepsy Foundation, one in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, making it a far more common disability than most believe it to be.
The display addresses common myths surrounding epilepsy, such as the tongue myth, where many believe an individual suffering from a seizure will swallow their tongue when it is physically impossible to do so.
The goal of the display is to spread awareness while also helping students learn about a medical condition that likely impacts someone they know.
Categories: Feature
