Looking Back
Misperceptions, social taboos and ostracization have often plagued people with epilepsy. The American state of Missouri did not allow persons with epilepsy to marry until 1982. In South Carolina, women with epilepsy could be sterilized without their consent until 1986.
In Ontario, the Human Rights Code (Statutes of Ontario, Chapter 53 Part I) clearly states that every person has a right to equal treatment: with respect to services, goods and facilities (Section 1); with respect to the occupancy of accommodation (S2); and with respect to employment (S4); and that every person has a right to freedom from harassment in occupying accommodation by the landlord, landlord's agent or an occupant of the same building (S2.2); and that every person has a right to freedom from harassment in the workplace (S4.2) "without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or handicap."
Among the explanations, discrimination "because of handicap" includes discrimination against any person who "has or has had, or is believed to have or have had...epilepsy..." (Part II, Section 9.b.i).
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