Seizure Smart Schools: Training is just the beginning

For students with epilepsy and their families, back-to-school season can bring both joy and worry. Families often wonder if their child will get the support they need to stay safe, learn, and do well in school.  

EFMN is Here to Help

Our Seizure Smart Schools training teaches seizure recognition and response. We also teach how epilepsy can impact learning.

Each fall, our team trains an average of 3,000 school nurses, staff, and teachers and our training is impactful.

• 98% of training attendees report learning more about epilepsy and seizures
• 97% report feeling more confident in responding to a seizure.  

What most people don’t know is that our support for students goes far beyond training. We also support students and schools throughout the school year.   

Support for Families

Parents reach out when they are worried school staff may not know how to respond to a seizure or when they feel the right learning supports aren’t in place.  

Our team starts by listening. We teach families their rights and find ways to improve communication between home and school. We also share tips and strategies that have helped other students with epilepsy succeed in school. 

Sometimes, just knowing they’re not alone is a huge relief for families.  

Support for Schools

Teachers and school leaders reach out to us, too.  

Many schools want to learn more about a specific student’s type of epilepsy or are looking for better ways to support their students. 

Last year, a school reached out seeking information about a specific student’s form of epilepsy. EFMN provided custom coaching to the student’s team, focusing on the unique needs of the student. Our support was just what they needed. The principal noted that our support helped staff feel more confident when working with that student.  

That confidence matters. When school staff understand epilepsy, they are better able to help students succeed.  

Creating More Welcoming Classrooms 

EFMN also provides epilepsy awareness lessons for students.  

These lessons help students understand epilepsy and feel less afraid of seizures. Parents often ask for these lessons because they want their children to feel understood by their classmates. When students learn more about epilepsy – and how to respond to a seizure – they are more likely to respond with kindness, confidence, and support. .

No Student Should Face Epilepsy Alone

From training to custom support for schools or families, EFMN is proud to be a one-stop resource for supporting students with epilepsy.  

Together, we are creating safe and welcoming learning spaces across Minnesota because no student, family, or school should have to navigate epilepsy alone. 

Author: Amy Haugen, Associate Executive Director, Mission Outcomes