1998 Winter Conference for Youth with Epilepsy
A fun and rewarding experience for all
Shanan Spencer-Brown, MSW (Child & Youth Services Co-ordinator, Epilepsy Association, Metro Toronto)
With much excitement, a lively group of 29 teenagers with epilepsy from around Southern Ontario arrived at the 1998 Winter Conference for Youth with Epilepsy. Held on the weekend of 20-22 February 1998 at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre, the Youth Conference was sponsored by Epilepsy Ontario and the Epilepsy Association Metro Toronto, with the support of the Epilepsy Ontario chapters of Durham Region, Hamilton & District, Kingston & Area, London & Area, Mississauga, Niagara Peninsula, Peterborough & Area, Simcoe County, and York Region.
Many teenagers with epilepsy go through their lives without ever having met anyone their own age with epilepsy, feeling isolated and alone. The Youth Conference provided a fun and relaxed setting for young people to meet, to swap stories and learn about others while discovering a thing or two about themselves. The air was filled with laughter and voices long into the night, when anticipation of the next day's activities made sleep impossible!
Throughout the weekend, the teens talked about what it's like to live with epilepsy: encountering the prejudices and fears of other kids, teachers and members of the general public; dealing with parents and other family members who are either overprotective or "in denial"; and striving for independence, while wondering what the future will hold in terms of education and career opportunities.
Everyone took part in a truly "outdoorsy" winter experience offered throughout the tranquil forests and rolling hills of Mansfield. Some of our activities included: hiking and nature studies in the forest; a "winter survival" exercise which taught us how to make debris huts and build fires with only two matches; cross-country skiing; and orienteering. In small groups, armed with only a map and a compass, no one got lost!
Indoor activities included ice-breaker games, role-plays, group discussions, and arts and crafts. In small groups, the teenagers had an opportunity to write and perform an epilepsy awareness "television commercial", using a video camera to record what they would want the public to understand about the disorder. A lot of thought and creativity went into these 60-second segments, which were then played for the larger group.
Everyone was sorry to see the bus arrive on Sunday afternoon, signaling the end of the conference. However, memories shared and friendships made will hopefully last a lifetime. And there's always next year!
For more information about the Winter Conference for Youth with Epilepsy, please call Shanan Spencer-Brown at the Epilepsy Association, Metro Toronto: 416-964-9095 or sspencer-brown@epilepsy.toronto.on.ca.
