Epilepsy Foundation Launches New Epilepsy.com as One-Stop Education Portal and Community Resource

Landover, MD - Saturday, March 22 at the National Walk for Epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation unveiled the new epilepsy.com, a website that reintroduces the organization as the most comprehensive national resource for people living with epilepsy and seizures, their caregivers, and anyone who seeks to better understand a medical condition that affects more than 2 million people in the United States.

“For people living with epilepsy, their caregivers, friends, and family members, the Epilepsy Foundation is an unwavering ally in raising awareness, providing education and support, and funding research to bring new treatments and therapies to market in a timeframe that matters,” said Philip M. Gattone, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “The new site is designed to help improve treatment and care and to be a community hub accessible from wherever people access the Internet.”

The new epilepsy.com combines two of the largest and most comprehensive websites for epilepsy-related content -- epilepsyfoundation.org and the previous epilepsy.com -- into one dynamic and engaging site. The previous sites averaged more than 500,000 unique visitors per month.

“In developing the new site, the Foundation sought to create a centralized source for all epilepsy-related information and support services, one of the recommendations presented by the Institutes of Medicine in its seminal 2012 report, Epilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding,” said Dr. Joseph Sirven, editor-in-chief of epilepsy.com. “Users will find updated facts and figures about epilepsy and seizure causes, diagnosis, treatments and research, as well as the resources to support those living with epilepsy and their caregivers that the Foundation is well-known for providing.”

More than an education platform, the new state-of-the-art website meets people where they use the web through its scalable functionality for computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Fully integrated with social media, the new site empowers visitors to become ambassadors for epilepsy and seizure awareness like never before. Users can login or register with their social identity from Facebook, Google Plus, or Twitter to comment on content, ask questions, participate in conversations, and easily share pages to their social media profiles.

“Many people with epilepsy have felt isolated and overwhelmed when trying to find the best treatment,” said Warren Lammert, chair of the Epilepsy Foundation. “The new epilepsy.com gives everyone the tools they need to connect with others, including peers and experts. Epilepsy.com is where people with epilepsy and their caregivers can find the best treatment and therapy options, learn the latest information about seizures, share their stories without feeling judged, and effortlessly discover life-changing information and resources.”

The new epilepsy.com was made possible by the generous support from our lead sponsor Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. Additional support for the new site came from the American Epilepsy Society, Cyberonics, Lundbeck, the McGrath Abrams Family Foundation, UCB Pharma and Upsher-Smith Laboratories.

Since its inception in 2007, the National Walk for Epilepsy has raised almost $8 million to advance access to care, fund research and new therapies, and educate people about seizures and epilepsy. Each year, the event offers new opportunities for people with epilepsy to join a larger community and take charge of their health and lives. Learn more about the National Walk for Epilepsy at www.walkforepilepsy.org.

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About Epilepsy
Epilepsy—a medical condition characterized by recurring seizures—can affect anyone, of any age, at any time. While it is estimated that one in 26 Americans will develop the seizure condition in their lifetime, current treatments for epilepsy do not work for more than three out of 10 children and adults diagnosed—leaving many Americans with no or inadequate control over their daily seizures and with the risk of further injury or fatality.

About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with more than 47 affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to stop seizures and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy and research to accelerate ideas into therapies. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit www.epilepsy.com.

“Like” the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/epilepsyfoundationofamerica and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/epilepsyfdn.

Media Contact:
Kenneth Lowenberg
VP of Communications & Digital Strategy
Epilepsy Foundation
klowenberg@efa.org | 301-918-3773