Comments on: Epilepsy and Your Job

By: Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:27:06 +0000

Hi Phylis,
I am glad that you were not hurt by the fire.
Ruth

By: Phylis Feiner Johnson

Phylis Feiner Johnson — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:23:24 +0000

I don’t think they even knew I was in there! And yes, I was out cold. So I was VERY quiet!!!

By: Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:14:20 +0000

I am really surprised that they did not see you, since it was the copy machine next door. I guess you were so quiet, they did not think anyone was in your room.

I imagine that they were yelling very loudly. You must have been really out.

Back then, everyone had to lie to get a job. I did not and accidentally found an employer who did not mind that I had epilepsy. Ruth

By: Phylis Feiner Johnson

Phylis Feiner Johnson — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:26:00 +0000

I must confess, when I got my first big job as a writer, I lied. Fortunately, those were in the days when there were real offices — with four walls and a door — not like these little cubicles today.

So whenever I felt a seizure coming on, I’d close the door and hit the floor.

Well, one day when I was out cold on the floor, the copy machine next to my office went on fire. They evacuated the whole building — except for me — because I was still out cold on the floor.

Later, when I emerged to make a copy, I asked where the copy machine was. Everybody looked at me as if I was from Mars!

By: Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:21:52 +0000

Many people with epilepsy can work. I cannot because of the severity of my seizures. When I was around 30 years old, I tried to work and was employed. My employer knew I had epilepsy. That was not a problem for her.

I was able to work one day, then I had seizures the next day. I had to call in sick. This pattern continued for 2 weeks. I quit, she told me I was welcome to work there and to come in when I can. I never went back.
Ruth