Free Epilepsy Support Groups — Louisiana | Epilepsy Alliance
Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana is the statewide organization serving people living with epilepsy and seizure disorders and the families who support them. Alongside its 24/7 helpline and one-on-one appointments, the Alliance runs free support groups — both online and in person — and free Q+A clinic sessions in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, and Covington.
What to Expect
Support groups bring together people with epilepsy and their caregivers to talk about what daily life with seizures actually involves: medication side effects, driving restrictions, employment, school accommodations, and the anxiety of not knowing when the next one comes. The Q+A clinic sessions pair that peer conversation with a knowledgeable guest speaker, so members leave with both community and concrete information. The Alliance also hosts larger annual gatherings, including an Adult Epilepsy Expo in New Orleans, a Pediatric Epilepsy Expo in Baton Rouge, and the Purple Picnic in Shreveport. Because the schedule rotates across regions and includes virtual options, current dates and locations are confirmed by contacting the organization directly.
Who This Group Is For
Adults and teens living with epilepsy or other seizure disorders anywhere in Louisiana, parents of children with epilepsy, and caregivers and partners. Both newly diagnosed people and those managing epilepsy for many years are welcome. Groups and clinic sessions are free, and the online option makes them reachable from rural parishes far from a comprehensive epilepsy center.
Why Peer Support Works
Epilepsy carries a stigma that most chronic conditions do not, and much of its hardest weight is social rather than medical. People describe losing a driver’s license, being treated as fragile at work, or watching friends become visibly frightened after witnessing a seizure. Peers short-circuit all of that: nobody in the room needs the condition explained or is startled by it. Groups also transmit hard-won practical knowledge — how others handled a workplace disclosure, what helped a school follow a seizure action plan, how to talk to a neurologist about a medication that isn’t working. For parents, hearing from families a few years ahead is often the single most reassuring thing available.
How to Join
Support groups and Q+A clinics are free. Email louisiana@efa.org or call (800) 626-1582 to ask about upcoming groups in your area, or call 225-298-5499 to schedule a one-on-one appointment. Current programming is listed at epilepsylouisiana.org. The national Epilepsy Foundation 24/7 helpline is also available at 1-800-332-1000.