IL SR1274

Declares November 2024 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in Illinois to raise awareness about epilepsies, seizures, and their effects through education, advocacy, research, and connection.

Recognizes that nearly 3.4 million people in the U.S., including 136,600 in Illinois, live with active epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures affecting people of any age.

Highlights that approximately half of adults with active epilepsy have annual family incomes below $25,000, with 21% unable to afford prescription medications, and that 30-40% of people with epilepsy still experience uncontrolled seizures despite available treatments.

Notes that 456,000 children in the U.S. live with epilepsy and miss an average of 11 or more school days annually, while the annual economic healthcare burden of epilepsy reaches $54 billion.

Emphasizes that despite protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with epilepsy face discrimination in employment, education, and housing, and that public education about seizure first aid can reduce stigma and improve outcomes.