Nicola Milne, Training Manager at Epilepsy Scotland looks at how our Epilepsy Friendly Award helps educate businesses and their employees to be more aware of epilepsy.
As Scotland’s national epilepsy charity, we want to make sure that people can access businesses and services confidently and safely.
That is why in 2018, we launched our Epilepsy Friendly Award (EFA). This educates businesses and their employees to be more aware of epilepsy and also what to do if someone has a seizure.
The EFA recognises businesses that have made adjustments to ensure that they are accessible to people with epilepsy.
Also, the award demonstrates an ability and willingness to help people with epilepsy should they require it.
Epilepsy Friendly Award criteria
The criteria for achieving the award is simple. We also offer training and advice to help you meet the criteria.
- Train staff to recognise epilepsy and respond appropriately if they witness a seizure
- Make reasonable adjustments to your working environment
- Offer customer information on site and online to help people access your business
- Promote awareness of epilepsy
- Encourage customer feedback
Making your premises accessible does not mean making large or expensive changes. For instance, small inexpensive adjustments can make a world of difference to a person living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Friendly Award process
The actual process is very easy. One of our trainers will come along to your premises and give an hour awareness talk.
This will then culminate in an exercise thinking about how your service/facility can be more accessible/safer to people with epilepsy.
They will also encourage you to update any policies were necessary. We will then send a completed form, certificate and window decal to indicate your premises is Epilepsy Friendly.
Benefits
The benefits to your business are:
- Training is included to give your staff the confidence to respond correctly in a seizure-related emergency
- Training can go towards your staff’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Having advertised your ‘Epilepsy Friendly’ status, you are showing your support for people with this condition.
- Your achievement can be shared in press releases, newsletters and social media as positive publicity
- We will advertise your award on our website, promoting you to the 600,000 people in the UK living with epilepsy.
We are eager to make sure people living with epilepsy feel safe and also confident accessing businesses and services.
Therefore, we are delighted that organisations like Specsavers Trongate, M&S Stirling and Celtic Football Club have made their premises Epilepsy Friendly.
The changes made are a significant step forward for people living with epilepsy.
If you would like to join these organisations and make your business Epilepsy Friendly then please email Nicola Milne at NMilne@epilepsyscotland.org.uk or call 0131 659 4730.
