What's New in Central & South Texas?

• Fleming's--Elegant Wine Dinner--Buy Your Tickets NOW!! Limited Seating!!
  Join us on July 25, @ Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar @ 6:30 PM for an elegant 4-course wine dinner. Tickets are only $50 each! There is limited seating, so reserve your attendance now! Questions? Please call 210-653-5353 or email staff@efcst.org. 100% of all proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Foundation!!

• 2008 Priceless Dreams Raffle  Get your Tickets Now! Only $20.00!!  Three GREAT Prizes!!!!

• 1^stPrize – $2,500 MasterCard® Gift Card & 2 SW Airline R/Trip Tickets

  2^ndPrize – $1,500 MasterCard® Gift Card

  3^rdPrize – $1,000 MasterCard® Gift Card

  Purchase your $20 Raffle tickets online or by phone at (210) 653-5353 or (888) 606-5353.Click here for all raffle information and rules. Drawing for the Priceless Dreams Raffle will be held August 23 @ the 2008 Regional Epilepsy Conference in Lubbock, Texas. All proceeds benefit the programs and services of the Epilepsy Foundation. 

• Seizures & Epilepsy Education (S.E.E.) Conference--REGISTER NOW!!
  Conference Speaker: Robert Mittan, Ph.D. 
  August 23, 2008 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
  1501 Mac Davis Lane, Lubbock, TX 79401
  Program offers up to 6.75 contact hours for nurses & social workers!
  See Conference Brochure for details! 

We are honored to Present Robert Mittan, PH.D. and the award-winning epilepsy seminar The Seizures & Epilepsy Education (S.E.E.), educational conference. The S.E.E. Program is for persons with epilepsy, their family members, and parents of children with epilepsy. S.E.E. was created to provide information and coping skills in order to attain the best seizure control and quality of life possible.

The S.E.E. Program is the perfect epilepsy “crash course” for health professionals. Nurses, social workers, assisted living staff, psychologists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and others will benefit from the program. Professionals will gain knowledge about epilepsy and skills in patient and family education. This education program will offer 6.75 contact hours for nurses & social workers.

This conference was made possible by a grant from the Epilepsy foundation and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) under grant number U58DP000606-02. Its contents do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

• Fleming's 2nd Annual Drive Fore the Cure Golf Tournament--REGISTER NOW!!
  September 12, 2008 @ SilverHorn Golf Club
  Entry Fee Includes Pre-Tourney Wine Party @ Fleming's!!!
  $125.00 Entry Fee
  Lunch & Dinner Included!!

• Adult Residence Care Needs Assessment Survey
  A very passionate and motivated mom of an adult son with epilepsy has developed a survey regarding residential care needs and resources for our adult seizure population who are unable to live independently. The target population is 21 years of age and older who have epilepsy with mood disorders and/or development disabilities. This is a completely voluntary survey. All personal information submitted will be held in the strictest of confidence and used only for the purpose of gathering statistical data. If this situation affects you or your family, please take a moment to complete this survey!

• Bass Fishing Tournament--It was great! Thanks to EVERYONE!!
  Thank You Very Much to everyone who participated and helped make our 1st Annual Bass Fishing Tournament possible!! The fine folks at Freedom Bass Club of San Antonio did a great job of organizing and hosting this fun event!! Thank you also to George Major from HOLES San Antonio for coming out and cooking for everyone! It was a hot day, but the fish were biting!! Everyone had a great time!! Pictures will be posted soon! Thanks again to everyone on the committee, and the great volunteers who got up at 4AM to make sure everyone had a great time!! 

August Goes to Washington!!
August Pulido Kayser and his family visit Capitol Hill!The wonderfully charming, August Kayser, his sister Daniella and mom Adrienne traveled to Washington DC recently to attend the 2008 Kids Speak Up Conference!

The Kayser family joined the hundreds of other epilepsy advocates that went to Capitol Hill to educate elected officials and their staff about epilepsy.

August met personally with Congressman Ciro Rodriguez! Congressman Rodriguez listened attentively as we explained the current priorities of the Epilepsy Foundation:

1. Appropriate $9 million for Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
2. Appropriate $4 million for Health Resources and Services Administration
3. Increase the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Budget by 6.6%
4. Co-sponsor the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration
5. Co-sponsor the VA Centers of Excellence Act of 2007

A Texas Size Thank You to August, Daniella, and Adrienne!! They did a great job representing the Epilepsy Foundation!

A BIG Thank You to Congressman Ciro Rodriguez for taking the time to visit with us, and for allowing August to take a quick "power nap" on his sofa! Click here to see the 2008 Speak Up Speak Out Photo Gallery!

• EFCST Receives Additional Funds for Seizure Clinics and Public Health Education Program!!!
  The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas recently received additional funds to expand our outreach seizure clinics!! EFCST has added clinics in Eagle Pass, Temple, and San Angelo to our current clinic schedule. A tele-medicine clinic will also be offered in Harlingen. This expansion of our outreach clinic program is a SIGNIFICANT program enhancement and will provide vital medical services to persons who need help receiving medical care and treatment. We will also be adding Public Health Educators to our staff to provide education and awareness services to residents in our 79 county territory. Click here for eligibility information and outreach clinic applications in English & Spanish.
  
  Clinic Locations:
  Austin                  Corpus Christi                    Eagle Pass
  Harlingen              Laredo                              San Angelo
  San Antonio          Temple                              Uvalde

• Do you have a story to tell us?
  Has your prescription ever been changed from brand name to generic or from one generic manufacturer to another without your knowledge?

  Has your medicine ever looked different when you picked it up? (Different color, shape, size, etc)

  Did the pharmacist tell you that it was exactly the same as what you had received before?

  Did you have an adverse reaction due to your medication being “changed”?

  Has your school-aged child been prescribed Diastat?

  If your answer is YES to any of these questions, we want to hear from you!!  Please email: staff@efcst.org and tell us your story!

• Summer Camp Applications Available NOW!!
  Thanks to the generosity of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Texas, we are able to provide youth in our service area the opportunity to attend camps for kids and teens with epilepsy. Click on the link below, or contact staff@efcst.org for Camp info!! Do Not Delay---Camper Slots go quickly!!!!
• • CampSpike'n' Wave- a week-long residential camping experience designed especially for children with epilepsy, aged 8-14.
  • Kamp Kaleidoscope- a week-long residential camping experience designed especially to meet the concerns of teens with epilepsy, aged 15-19 years.
  • Camp Counselors needed - if you are interested in applying, contact Mandi Trotter at 713-789-6295 or email mtrotter@efset.org for more information.

Epilepsy Foundation of Central and South Texas

Epilepsy is one of the major health problems of our nation. More than 3 million Americans have epilepsy/seizure disorders, yet it remains one of our most misunderstood and unknown health issues. About half of the people with epilepsy have continuing seizures even with treatment. Many face problems in educational attainment, employment, transportation, and social interactions.The Epilepsy Foundation is a not-for-profit human service agency addressing the needs of persons and their families affected by epilepsy, seizure disorder, and related disabilities including traumatic and acquired brain injury, stroke, and developmental disability. The Foundation serves individuals and families without regard to race, color, sex, age, or national origin.

We are a non-profit, charitable agency, designated as a 501 (c) 3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible as allowed by law.The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas is an affiliate of the Epilepsy Foundation National Office, located in Landover, Maryland.

Our Mission

"Serving the Needs of People Affected by Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders"

The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas is a voluntary health organization. We value all people with epilepsy. We commit our resources to empowering their independence and inspiring productive lives.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas (EFCST) was founded in 1994 to improve the quality of life of the over 119,000 adults and children with epilepsy and/or seizure disorders in the 79 counties of Central and South Texas. EFCST was created to put an end to the myths and misunderstandingsabout epilepsy while helping individuals with epilepsy to improve their quality of life and the opportunity to participate in all life experiences.

Since EFCST was founded, thousands of people with epilepsy and their families have received information or have benefited from the comprehensive medical, educational, and social, services offered by EFCST. Epilepsy affects all aspects of a person's life. Learning to cope with and manage epilepsy takes a coordinated effort by family, friends, teachers, and managers in the workplace. All the Foundation's programs are designed to help people reach their full potential and enhance their sense of self worth.

EFCST staff provides a wide variety of services to persons with epilepsy, their families and the community. At the Epilepsy Foundation, one of our primary goals is to provide accessible, current information about epilepsy/seizure disorders to individuals with epilepsy, parents, family members and friends. We also provide information about epilepsy to professionals in the community through our in-service training programs. Our professionally trained staff is available to answer questions about epilepsy and its related concerns.

Explore our site to learn about our Programs and Services-- and find out how you can make a difference.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsysometimes called a seizure disorder, or (SEIZURES) is a chronic unpredictable neurological condition characterized by intermittent electrical and chemical disturbances in the brain that cause seizures which affect awareness, movement, or sensation. Epilepsy is the most prevalent serious neurological disorder of childhood, and second only to stroke as a condition that can strike at any stage of life.

Epilepsy is not contagious.
Epilepsy is not mental illness.
Epilepsy is not mental retardation.

Who has Epilepsy?

Epilepsy does not discriminate. It can affect children, adults, seniors, men and woman, people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and social classes at any time.

• 2.7 million people in the U.S. have Epilepsy. That's 1 in every 100 people. 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure at some point in their lives.
• 50% of all new cases occur before the age of 25.
• Three in 100 people will develop Epilepsy by the age of 75.
• Every hour 20 Americans are diagnosed as having Epilepsy and 181,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.

Did You Know?

• Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder behind stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
• In 70% of cases the cause is unknown.
• More people have seizure disorders (Epilepsy) than Parkinson's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy combined! Yet, none of these well-known diseases carry the powerful stigma associated with Epilepsy.
• Surveys of people with epilepsy show that their greatest concerns are societal expectations (stigma, discrimination, negative attitudes) coupled with issues of transportation, unemployment, and health & safety concerns.
• Many people still believe that you should place something in the mouth of someone having a seizure.

Help Us Keep In Touch With You!

The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas & the National Epilepsy Foundation sends both electronic and "snail mail" mailings to provide updates on epilepsy research, Foundation activities, and other news. To make sure you do not miss any news, please login or create an account to sign up for our newsletter & e-Newsletter mailings.

How to Contact Us

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Address:
10615 Perrin Beitel Road, Suite 602
San Antonio, Texas 78217
Phone: (210) 653-5353
Toll Free: (888) 606-5353 (toll free only from 79 county service area)
Fax: (210) 653-5355
E-mail: staff@efcst.org

Driving Directions

From Loop 410 the Epilepsy Foundation is located North of the Main Post Office at Perrin Beitel & Wurzbach Parkway. We are in the Perrin Oaks Garden Office complex. Download driving directions from your area to our office on yahoo maps.

Thank you for visiting!

We try to update our site regularly and hope you will save our web site as a "favorite place" to return to often whether you need assistance for yourself or a loved one. Your contribution of financial support will help us help others.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas is a Community Health Charities Member Agency.