What is the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance?
The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance (CEA) is a Canada wide network of grassroots organizations dedicated to the promotion of independence and quality of life for people with epilepsy and their families, through support services, information, advocacy, and public awareness.
Where Are We From?
The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance includes rural, urban, local, and provincial incorporated Epilepsy Associations from coast to coast in Canada. We currently have member associations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Why Did We Come Together?
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in Canada. Yet until recently, associations across this country struggled alone, independent of each other, on behalf of the persons they served. Some organizations focus on support, some on education, some on public education, or combination of these services. Each doing what they can, with what they have. Each association knowing that there is so much to be done, while at the same time being fully aware of our individual limitations; knowing that by consolidating efforts and sharing resources, we have an opportunity to reach more people, more efficiently and with better service, than we ever could alone. We needed a Canada wide alliance to make us better organizations - more importantly, persons with epilepsy all across Canada deserve no less.
MISSION
The CEA/ACE is a partnership between grassroots epilepsy organizations Canada-wide dedicated to the promotion of independence, quality of life, and full community participation of persons with and affected by epilepsy, through innovative support services, advocacy, education and public awareness.
VALUES
- We value people's right to live with dignity as full participants of their community.
- We believe it is a person's right to be informed and to participate meaningfully in their own health management.
- We believe that health encompasses social and emotional well-being.
- We believe society has an obligation to be accessible to all its members an opposing of all discrimination.
- We respect confidentiality, self-determination, and choice.
- We believe that strength is found in the ties that bind.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
- Open Communication.
- Collaboration.
- Trust.
- Ethical conduct.
- Mutual respect - where everyone is heard and listened to, differences are respected, and everyone’s opinion is valued.
- Agreement by consensus.
- Staff and volunteer partnership in decision making.
- Loyalty to the organization and its members.
- Language Accessibility.
- Primary dedication to the well-being of all Canadian living with epilepsy.
VISION
Priorities of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance include:
- The development of a central database of epilepsy programs and services coast-to-coast.
- Prominent presence on the internet.
- Toll-free access to programs & services for individuals with epilepsy and their families throughout the nation.
- National publications distributed free of charge, coast-to- coast.
- A co-ordinated public awareness and education campaign.
- And strategic partnership initiatives in marketing, fund development, and consumer advocacy.
The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance has emerged as a formidable voice for the epilepsy community, and a leading influence in the promotion of service innovation and excellence in Canada.
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