The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is the only private non-profit health agency providing services to the estimated 30,000 people in San Diego County who have seizure disorders.

The Foundation is dedicated to the prevention and control of epilepsy and its consequences and to development of an optimal quality of life for people living with this disorder. Serving San Diego continuously since 1954, the Epilepsy Society - as it was originally known - seeks to accomplish its mission through education, research and service which include: individual and family counseling; career development and vocational counseling; information, referral and individual advocacy; a parent network; adult and parent support groups; in-service educational seminars, a speakers bureau and classroom presentations.

NurseNet (see 1997) receives national recognition for program excellence from the Epilepsy Foundation National Office.

860 individuals, families & service providers received 4758 information, counseling, advocacy, &/or other support services. 4459 received our informative newsletters. We provided professional education & in-service training to 966 educators, health care & disability services providers, graduate students & other service professionals. 7048 children learned about epilepsy through classroom and Kids On the Block assembly programs. Public health presentations and other community contacts brought epilepsy awareness to 2163 people.

The San Diego Foundation Ariel W. Coggeshall Fund awarded EFSDC a $12,370 grant to help develop an epilepsy outreach and education program in the Latino community.

1999
Power to Prevent, a health and safety curriculum for use in elementary and middle school classrooms, was developed. Copies distributed to 530 schools in San Diego County.

Executive Director, Jackie Vella, received the National Award for Exexecutive Director of the Year from the Epilepsy Foundation National Office.

1997
Women’s International Center honored the Epilepsy Society with its Living Legacy Humanitarian Award.

NurseNet, a continuing education program for school nurses, was created. There have been over 350 participants to date.

January, 1954
The organization officially became known as the San Diego County Epilepsy Society.

May, 1954
The Society participated in a conference in Chicago to help organize a National Epilepsy Society.

January, 1956
First Society headquarters were rented.

July, 1960
The Society purchased and moved into a house at 1612 30th Street. This remained our headquarters until June of 1987.

July 9, 1964
The Society reached its thousandth case.

July 8, 1965
Mayor Frank Curran proclaimed July as "Epilepsy Education Month."

October 9, 1969
Assembly Bill 229 includes children with epilepsy under The Crippled Children’s Services Program. This represented 10 years of work by the Epilepsy Society.

December 11, 1970
Employment Services start, free of charge to the applicant.

March 13, 1975
A person having one grand mal seizure per month became eligible for some County jobs.

April 18, 1988
The Epilepsy Society of San Diego County was named the EFA Affiliate on the Year.

May 12, 1989
The Grand Opening of the Postal Annex+ Individual Work Transition Program.

June, 1989
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Protection & Advocacy Inc. recognized the Epilepsy Society with its ‘Outstanding Program’ of the Year for employment services.

August, 1992
California Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Needs Assessment Report was published. This represented a three-year project by the Epilepsy Society of San Diego County.

July, 1994
The first Summer Camp for children with epilepsy.

September, 1996
Epilepsy Society received national recognition for its Epilepsy Statewide Media Campaign.