If you have a seizure disorder, finding a job can be challenging. While it is possible for many people with epilepsy to succeed in a wide range of careers, it's not always straightforward. Statistics from 2006 found there was a higher unemployment rate among people with epilepsy in the US.
While finding work can be harder for some people with seizures, there are many different kinds of jobs for people with epilepsy that may still be suitable. Your epilepsy treatment team or your physician can provide advice based on your personal circumstances.
Challenges of finding a job with epilepsy
People with epilepsy have reached the top in a wide variety of industries, from sport to arts, music to politics. But that's not always possible for everyone. There are certain challenges that make doing some kinds of jobs harder for people with a seizure disorder.
- Stress. Feeling stressed is one of the most commonly reported seizure triggers, which means that some high pressure jobs may be difficult for people with epilepsy.
- Tiredness. Having seizures and taking epilepsy medication can make you feel very tired, and many people with epilepsy feel fatigue. This can affect some people with epilepsy’s productivity at work.
- Forgetfulness. Taking seizure medication can also affect people’s memory. This can be an issue in jobs which require short term memory, for instance.
- Safety. If your seizures are not controlled, employers may have the right to refuse to hire you for certain roles if there is a significant risk of harm if you had a seizure, even after reasonable accommodations have been made.
- Stigma. While attitudes towards people with epilepsy are improving, there is still stigma around the condition, which can make finding a job harder.
Read more: Guide to discrimination and jobs for people with epilepsy
6 jobs that may be suitable for people with epilepsy
Ask your physician for advice about finding work.
Everybody's epilepsy is different, and so a job that might be perfectly possible for one person, might be far more difficult for another. The following ideas for jobs for people with seizures may serve as inspiration for some people with epilepsy.
If you’re interested in applying for jobs, speak to your physician about your plans. They can give you advice that’s specific to your circumstances.
1. Most office jobs
Working in an office environment might be an option if you have epilepsy. Your workspace can be tailored to your personal needs, you don't necessarily need to be able to drive, and you may not need to speak directly with clients (so there’s less pressure if you’re having a difficult day). There’s a huge variety of office jobs for people with epilepsy, including things like:
- Back-office administration
- Data entry
- Marketing
- Social media manager
- Creative jobs
- Graphic design
- Human resources
- IT help desk
2. Library jobs
Working in a library or archive is another job you can do with epilepsy in many situations. Libraries are typically calm environments. A typical day might involve organizing books, answering questions from members of the public, or helping people to do research.
3. Content writing, editing and proofreading
If you have a good grasp of grammar and spelling, then there are many opportunities for using your skills. You could work at a publisher, proofreading scientific journals. You could write blogs or brochures for companies. Or you could edit articles for magazines and newspapers. Editorial and writing jobs are almost exclusively desk based, the hours can be flexible, and work can often be done from home too.
4. Translation jobs
If you speak a second language fluently, then there are an enormous number of opportunities for working as a translator. Many companies require their websites or documents to be translated into foreign languages. Again, translation work is usually flexible, and you may be free to choose the hours you’ll work.
5. Hospitality jobs
While some hospitality jobs can be stressful (especially waitering or cooking), there are also many other parts of the industry that are less intense. This includes things like catering at hospitals, schools or other large employers.
6. Virtual tutoring
Depending on your educational background, there are many kinds of virtual tutoring work that may be well suited to people with epilepsy. Virtual tutors offer one-to-one or one-to-many classes to students over the internet, and the work is often fairly flexible.
Teaching English as a foreign language is a popular option. Similarly, you could teach math, science or other subjects you have specialized knowledge in to high school students who need support.
Learn more: Returning to work after a seizure
Tips for finding jobs you can do with epilepsy
When you are starting your job search, it's good to spend a bit of time thinking about what you're interested in, what skills you have, and how these can be matched up to different sorts of work.
It's useful to think about what things you really like doing. For some people that's talking with others. You may really enjoy research and reading. Perhaps you thrive in a team - or alternatively, maybe you prefer doing things on your own.
It’s also important to think about what you can’t do if you have epilepsy. While it is possible for people with epilepsy to do many kinds of jobs, certain professions still have restrictions. Joining the military, working in air traffic control, working as a pilot, and some kinds of trucking work may be off limits. Think about what skills you have and how these could be valuable in the job market. If you have a degree or higher qualifications, then that's always a good place to start. But in any case, dig deeper and think about other things you're good at, and how they could be useful to an employer.
Where to find jobs you can do with epilepsy?
People with epilepsy can find and apply for jobs following all the standard methods people normally use, including:
- Applying for jobs via job listings online
- Visiting a recruitment consultancy
- Applying directly via an employer’s website
- Finding jobs on social media websites like LinkedIn
- Visiting government recruitment centers
It's also good to know that there are several job boards that are aimed specifically at people who have disabilities such as epilepsy. Employers who advertise on these websites are clearly signaling that they’re ready to make adjustments and look past the disability label.
Jobs for people with epilepsy
Finding jobs you can do with epilepsy is undoubtedly challenging - especially if your seizures are not fully controlled. Nevertheless, there are many great jobs for people with seizures out there, and with hard work and a bit of luck, you might be able to find the right job for you.
If you need more advice or guidance on finding jobs for people with epilepsy near you, a great place to start is your local Epilepsy Foundation. They can advise you on suitable opportunities in your town or region. Good luck with your job search!
