Dear Fair Housing Lady: Seizures and Epilepsy

| August 20, 2013 | 1 Comment

Seizures&Epilepsy_400x400Dear Fair Housing Lady:

Hi, are people with seizures and epilepsy considered under fair housing as people with disabilities PWDs?

People with epilepsy (or subject to any other condition that may cause seizures) will often be deemed to be persons with disabilities (PWDs). In general, a disability is described as any condition that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities. Although this list is not all inclusive, major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning, and working. (Note that Fair Housing Lady has always thought that breathing was pretty major when it comes to living.)

If a person’s epilepsy causes limitations on major life activities, then yes, that person is a PWD. And even someone who has their seizures under control through medication can be deemed to be a PWD if that medication makes them drowsy, or unable to concentrate, or unable to sleep to the extent that they cannot work, or go to school, or care at times for oneself.

Remember that for fair housing purposes, someone can become a PWD even if they do not meet the definition. They can, you ask? (Or in this case I ask it for you.) Yes, they can. If you think a person has a disability, they do! Being regarded as disabled confers the civil rights of a PWD in housing. So if you know someone who has epilepsy and you regard them as disabled, they are a PWD even if they are managing their major life activities just fine.

Category: Disability Accomodations


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  1. Mahmud says:

    Thank you for your helpful post.

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