The Voice - Epilepsy with Katrina Breau

Join VAD as we talk with Katrina Breau about her life with Eplilepsy.

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 Teresa Jackson  
 What is something that I should have asked you, but haven't about epilepsy?
 
 Katrina Breau  
 Oh, epilepsy, um, I guess I would say the number one thing I always love to pass on to people living with epilepsy is not to embrace the condition as a life sentence that have limitations, to really allow yourself the freedom no matter what the challenge is to say that, you know, you can, you can still rise to accomplish this. And, and really look at all of the different ways that are out there nowadays, to assist anyone living with epilepsy. And there, there is a wide variety of groups and different online events and different support groups or even getting together with someone else that also has epilepsy. And, and, and really, you know, bonding your friendship, to just understand each other, that we were on a unique journey. But I would say to also be cautious to not allow epilepsy to become the main focus of your life. And, and to really close your eyes and create your dreams and, and, and embrace all of that potential. And, and don't feel that the Yeah, but I have, can steal away some of those dreams and potential for you. When I think of myself as a, you know, someone who couldn't read in high school, I never would have thought I would have been an author. And also, you know, an, I speak for an, a write for many different magazines as well. Divorce magazines, talking about the impacts of children and their lives of they're going through a divorce. But that doesn't necessarily have to do with my epilepsy. It's all of the other layers of our life and all of these different layers and, and sort of files that you overcome in your life. All kind of mold you into the personality that you are and, and the amazing gifts and blessings you have to pass on to many people along, along the way.
 
 Teresa Jackson  
 It's been a fascinating journey. Thank you. That was a great conversation. I appreciate your ability to support and advocate in the community as an influencer, an educator. I have two final questions for you. If you could speak with decision makers that fund services what would you say and want them to know? And second, can you give us your contact information?
 
 Katrina Breau  
 Decision makers. Well, I, I sit at tables with decision makers quite often. I would say when it comes to decision makers, there are many different things that people living with the challenges of epilepsy are facing that decision makers are not allowing people the true I want to say, lifestyle that they can have. One of the challenges I look at is people who are like myself, unable to drive or on a full level of disability because of their epilepsy. And, and not able to get disability benefits many times from our federal government or provincial government is also or even from your employer, because people don't always see it as a full disability. I know, one time I had an insurance company follow me while I was putting my kids on a wagon in the park, and they would follow me and take pictures of me and say, well, obviously you can walk. Well, it's not about my ability to walk. It's so many other things in the foundation of my life. But it's bringing those, those small little things that are challenges for us on it in a clarity that the people making decisions can understand. So it's not that we want everything handed to us on a silver platter when we live with a challenge like this. But we do hope to have clarity and understanding of the limitations. And we have amazing opportunities that our city has provided in Edmonton area, as well, with providing us with the bus tickets, if you need, if you have a disability, like epilepsy. And there's many different I would say. I would say important pieces of the puzzle that the decision makers don't always get to hear when they're at an a board meeting, making a decision on doing cuts, or different things that really need to, to have clarity on. And that would be even at the school system when I think back to my own school days when I was segregated because they, they didn't want anyone to catch the epilepsy from me, which, of course was not correct. But it was just a misunderstanding that the system had at that time. And it's about clarifying and, and really eliminating a lot of these misunderstandings that sometimes society has. And that's something that I think that when it comes to the decision makers, I always ask them, when it comes to the decision makers, on your board, in your meetings, how many people living with challenges are on your board, to really bring those concerns forward. And many times it doesn't exist. And so for all of us living out there that have any levels of challenges, we need to have our, our voices heard, and allow the decision makers to take on that opportunity to hear us and, and don't just give them a concern that you know this is wrong and needs to be fixed. But provide a solution, provide a solution as some alternatives that can also be there. So you know, I mean, it's also realistic that, you know, you're not going to be wanting to be you know, a brain surgeon with epilepsy. Yeah. And realize some of the limitations that you do have, but also embrace the opportunities that you can take on and really, I would say allow the system to hear your concerns, because the only way they're going to make changes is by listening to the concerns that are really coming forward and hearing it from a true perspective. Rather than many times boards that do not have the person living the journey themselves speaking because those of us that live the journeys have different perspectives than the people that sometimes want to support them and in that it's even as simple as your parents when you live with epilepsy. You don't have all this shelter of what they want for it for you but that doesn't necessarily help you. If when you think of like society says the helicopter parent, but when you when you live with a disability that helicopter parent can also cause harm for us, from preventing us from really experiencing what we need to experience to grow effectively. mentally, physically and emotionally into society. And we need those opportunities as well.
 
 Teresa Jackson  
 Thank you. And some contact information, what have you got if people wanted to contact you for more information.
 
 Katrina Breau  
 Contact me for more information, you can contact me by sending me an email at Katrina K A T R I N A @ healthy brain.ca You can also phone me at 780-686-7949 or also go on my website which is healthy brain.ca And there's some information there if some information you can contact me as well. Thank you for having me.
 
 Teresa Jackson  
 Awesome. Thank you for your time and energy day today Katrina, your understanding of the community is of value to all that know you. Voice of Albertans with disabilities cross disability, nonprofit organisation of them for people with disabilities. VAD is guided by the principles of accessibility, equity and inclusion. Learn about VAD services on our website at WWW.vadsociety.ca or call 780-488-9088 for more information. Thank you again for joining today's podcasts signing off for the day. Together we hold the power
 
 Transcribed by https://otter.ai