Marietta resident John Miller has a vast collection of name tags, hats and hair nets from the 58 jobs he’s held since reaching adulthood.
Miller, 49, said he isn’t out to set any records for having held so many jobs. The fact is, he hasn’t been employed since 2009, claiming a medical condition is making it increasingly harder for him to find or keep work.
Suffering from epilepsy -a neurological disorder that causes seizures, which affect brain functions, movement and consciousness – Miller said it has been his experience that employers are reluctant to hire or keep someone with his condition.
He’s now in talks with state lawmakers in the hopes of creating jobs for individuals affected by epilepsy. He said the project might be similar to WASCO’s programs that help create jobs for the area’s physically and mentally-challenged.
“I would be happy cleaning up state offices or rest stops along the highway,” he said. “I just want work and I know there has to be others out there like me.”
State Rep. Andy Thompson, R-Marietta, said last week he would look into Miller’s proposal but expressed concerns over how it would be funded and what jobs may be lost because of the proposed start-up.
Epilepsy affects about 3 million Americans, including more than 35,000 individuals living in Ohio, according to Dianna Doyle, executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Central Ohio. November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.
“This is not a disease but a neurological disorder,” Doyle said. “It’s something that can be caused by injury, or more frequently, simply develop.”
Doyle’s foundation works to provide education and counseling to individuals affected by the disorder, as well as to their families, schools and employers. The group also works with organizations and pharmaceutical companies to help low-income individuals get the medication they need. Without insurance, some epilepsy medication can cost individuals more than $1,000 per month.
Doyle said for many individuals epilepsy is treatable with the right medication. Also, some children who are affected by the disorder will go on to lead perfectly normal lives as adults without medication or symptoms.
Still, Doyle said it isn’t unheard of for individuals with epilepsy to have employment problems.
“Those problems do happen sometimes, especially if they are actively having seizures,” Doyle said. “Even though epilepsy can be controlled for most people though medication, it may not prevent all seizures.”
Miller said he is medicated but still suffers from as many as three seizures a month.
Struggling financially and concerned he may eventually lose his home, Miller said he is considering a second try to secure Social Security disability benefits. He was previously denied the benefits.
“I don’t consider myself disabled and I want to work,” he said. “But I know if I don’t (pursue disability) it would hurt my family more than it would hurt my pride.”
Miller said his epilepsy began at age 12 after he sustained a head injury. He still averages anywhere from one to three seizures a month. A typical seizure can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Miller is married and has a 20-year-old stepson. His wife, Deborah, works and carries medical insurance, which helps cover most of the financial needs of the family. He has attended the Washington County Career Center and completed an industrial maintenance program. Most of his work over the years has been in general labor or food service.
Doyle said employer concerns should be based on the type of work being performed and how long it has been since the last seizure.
Disclosing a medical condition prior to employment is not required but may go a long way to building a healthy relationship between an employee and employer, Doyle said.
“Some people simply feel that it isn’t necessary to reveal that information as long as their seizures are controlled by medication,” she said. “It’s a personal preference. Just because someone may have had an issue in the past, it doesn’t mean it can’t be controlled.”
Doyle said education and understanding is key to both employees and employers.
In most cases, epilepsy manifests in early childhood. Renea Ball, Marietta City School nurse, said approximately 12 of the 1,500 elementary school students in the district are affected by epilepsy.
Ball said seizures are rarely a medical emergency.
“If we have a student with seizure activity, we generally get the other students out of the classroom and remove any furniture around the student,” she said. “You don’t want to hold down the person, but maybe put a jacket or pillow under their heads to protect the head. Then we basically monitor how long the seizure lasts, what started it. If it lasts more than five minutes, we have medication we can administer that can help stop it.”
Ball said as children grow their medication needs sometimes need adjusting, which can lead to seizures. Also, she said stress, overheating, flashing lights (including some video games) and other visual effects can trigger seizures.
By Brad Bauer – The Marietta Times (bbauer@mariettatimes.com) , The Marietta Times
