Joyce Bender

The fall from her first grand mal seizure, at a Pittsburgh, Pa., movie theater, caused Joyce Bender’s face to hit the floor so hard she broke all the bones in her right ear and fractured her skull.

That day in 1985 was a terrifying introduction to her epilepsy, which went undiagnosed for years, Ms. Bender, now chairwoman-elect of the national Epilepsy Foundation’s board of directors, said Friday morning.

Since then she said she’s devoted herself to helping people with epilepsy and disabilities gain competitive employment in the face of persistent discrimination and ridicule.

More than 60 percent of people with significant disabilities don’t work, Ms Bender said to business leaders, legislators and health care professionals gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown. The breakfast discussion was organized by the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee.

“We’re not putting up with it anymore. People with disabilities and epilepsy have the right to work,” she said. “If you’re a hiring manager and you’re here today, get over it.”

Seizures, a symptom of epilepsy, are caused by temporary interruptions in the normal electrical activity of the brain, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. About 3 million Americans have epilepsy, including two of every 100 adults in Tennessee, the foundation estimates.

Rampant misconceptions about epilepsy range from the belief that something should be put in the mouth of someone having a seizure to the antiquated idea that people with epilepsy are possessed by the devil.

“That is more common than you think,” said Dr. Janet Foliano-Kemp, a psychologist at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. She said some of her patients who have suffered head trauma have epilepsy.

Kim Chapman, an anchorwoman at WTVC NewsChannel 9 who also has epilepsy, introduced Ms. Bender at the breakfast.

Among the legislators in attendance were City Councilman Manny Rico and state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson. Mr. Rico, who said he has friends with epilepsy, said the event cleared up some of his own misconceptions.

“It was very informative for me. You think you know about what something is, but you really don’t,” he said.