LaQueisa Haynes- Smith
Senior Director of Training
Enhancing School Environments through Seizure First Aid Training
In the United States, 470,000 children live with epilepsy, yet it remains a condition shrouded in misconceptions. Compared to students with other health concerns, one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study showed that students aged 6-17 years living with epilepsy were more likely to miss 11 or more days of school in the past year. For students with epilepsy, proper seizure first aid and continuity of care while they are at school are crucial to ensuring a safe and enriching environment.
Join us, as Vector Solutions partners with the Epilepsy Foundation of America to offer educators and school personnel a convenient and effective way to receive comprehensive seizure first aid training. This webinar promises an engaging conversation aimed at equipping educators, school staff, and anyone invested in the well-being of students with the essential tools and knowledge needed to provide effective support to those living with epilepsy.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar, you will:
- Comprehend Epilepsy: Gain the ability to define epilepsy and seizures, while delving into the unique challenges faced by students in educational settings.
- Become a First Responder: Recognize the critical importance of providing Seizure First Aid training to all K-12 and Higher Education employees, empowering them to become first responders in seizure-related incidents.
- Craft Inclusive Classrooms: Explore strategies for creating classrooms that are not only safe but also welcoming, tailored to the specific needs of students living with epilepsy.
- Understand Legislative Insights: Acquire knowledge about the Seizure Safe Schools legislative efforts, which mandate training in certain states to educate school personnel and bridge gaps in care.
Presenters
LaQueisa Haynes-Smith, MS, MCHES is the Senior Director of Training for the Epilepsy Foundation. She is a master certified health education specialist (MCHES®️) with nearly 20 years of experience in health education and training across the academic, government and non-profit sector.
She has led, managed, and coordinated programs funded through the CDC and other federal agencies to train public health professionals, build capacity, improve health, prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities.
Mrs. Haynes-Smith earned a master’s degree in health education from the University of Michigan-Flint in her hometown of Flint, MI, and a graduate certificate in distance education at University of Maryland Global Campus.
Laura Weidner
VP of Government Relations and Advocacy
As Vice President of Government Relations & Advocacy, Laura leads and oversees the Epilepsy Foundation’s strategy on federal- and state-level policy, legal advocacy and grassroots engagement. The Foundation’s advocacy initiatives seek to improve access to care, end epilepsy-related discrimination, foster research and innovation and promote public health and education.
Laura joined the Foundation in September 2018, after nine years working in federal policy and government relations for the National MS Society and before that, three years with the Child Welfare League of America’s government affairs team. She is the Immediate-Past Chair of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities, the largest coalition of national organizations working together on federal disability-related policy.
Laura serves in leadership positions of several other coalitions including the Partnership to Protect Coverage, the Epilepsy Leadership Council and the Partnership to Improve Patient Care. Laura has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University and a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars.
