24 March 2021

Epilepsy management

A new practice alert provides guidance on supporting people with disability who have epilepsy.

Key points

• Epilepsy is a condition affecting the brain that is more common among people with disability. It causes several types of seizures depending on what part of the brain is affected.
• People with intellectual disability and epilepsy are at increased risk of severe and uncontrolled seizures compared to other people with epilepsy.
• Providers should ensure participants have an epilepsy management plan that has been developed in consultation with specialist doctors and revised at least every 12 months.

​​Practice alert: Epilepsy management

Epilepsy is a condition affecting the brain that is more common among people with disability. It causes several types of seizures depending on what part of the brain is affected.

We have developed a practice alert called ‘Epilepsy management’, which explains risks associated with the condition, common triggers for epileptic seizures, how to support NDIS participants with epilepsy, and your obligations as an NDIS provider.

We committed to developing this and other practice alerts in response to the research undertaken by Dr Carmela Salomon and Professor Julian Trollor into the causes and contributors to deaths of people with disability.

The practice alert is available on the NDIS Commission website. Please read and follow the guidance outlined in this practice alert, and share it with your workers who support people with disability who have epilepsy.

Contact Us

Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9am to 4.30pm in the NT, 9.00am to 5.00pm in all other states and territories Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au