I was diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 4 and live with regular seizures which have resulted in several hospital visits throughout my life.

People with Epilepsy face tiredness, injuries, side effects of medication and so much more. Epileptic seizures are no laughing matter. 3 people die everyday due to unexpected death of Epilepsy in the UK. Yet, it isn’t uncommon to encounter epilepsy comparisons in film and television, most recently in the series “Wednesday”, with the quote ‘This espresso machine is having a seizure.’ This is deeply hurtful and disrespectful to those of us who live with this condition each day. 

Epilepsy affects around 3.4 million individuals in the US alone (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), making it more prevalent than autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy combined.

Misrepresentations in the media only serve to spread misinformation about this condition and belittle the daily challenges faced by people like me.

We must challenge and prevent such insensitive representations from becoming commonplace in film and television. By doing this, we promote respect, understanding, and empathy for the millions of individuals who struggle with epilepsy. I ask you, the reader, to support this cause by signing this petition. We need to create a respectful media environment that accurately represents all aspects of society, including health conditions like epilepsy.