As a voice in the special needs community, we understand that living with epilepsy is difficult. People with epilepsy deal with multiple challenges, stress, and physical and emotional pain. Thankfully, awareness and education are great ways to shed light on this condition and work towards progressive solutions. That’s why celebrating November Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM) is so important.

Also known as a seizure disorder, epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition.

Seizures seen in epilepsy are caused by disturbances in the electrical activity of the brain. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or genetics, but often the cause is unknown. Epilepsy is more common than you may think. Check out these surprising numbers to get the details.

• 65 Million: Number of people around the world who have epilepsy
• Over 2 Million: Number of people in the United States who have epilepsy
• 1 IN 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime
• Between 4 and 10 out of 1,000: Number of people on earth who live with active seizures at any one time
• 150,000: Number of new cases of epilepsy in the United States each year
• ONE-THIRD: Number of people with epilepsy who live with uncontrollable seizures because no available treatment works for them
• 6 OUT OF 10: Number of people with epilepsy where the cause is unknown

The National Epilepsy Foundation is a leading resource for people with epilepsy to learn their treatment and therapy options as they strive to become seizure-free. Last year, the National Epilepsy Foundation launched a new year-long education and awareness campaign called #DareTo. The campaign focuses on breaking down the barriers that can prevent people with epilepsy from reaching their fullest potential. They challenged the general public to post their dares over social media to spread awareness and spark inspiration.

“My epilepsy taught me to be a fighter,” said Rick Harrison, a spokesperson for the National Epilepsy Foundation and star of the hit TV program Pawn Stars. “ When I said I wanted to make a TV series out of my pawn shop, people thought I was nuts. But I dared to defy the odds, and Pawn Stars was born. If you have epilepsy, dare to live to your fullest potential. The Epilepsy Foundation will help you dare.”

The Epilepsy Foundation is an unwavering ally in raising awareness, providing support, and funding research to bring new treatments and therapies to market in a time frame that matters for people with seizures. People living with epilepsy, their families and their caregivers are served by their network of more than 40 Epilepsy Foundation affiliates around the country.

Local Foundation affiliates provide information and referral assistance; maintain individual and family support services; serve as advocates for the rights of those with epilepsy; and offer community-based education to employers, emergency first-responders, school nurses, and other allied health professionals. Find your local Epilepsy Foundation here.

How to you #dare to make a difference? Drop by our Facebook page and share your stories.