November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and it has a way of passing in the blink of an eye! The saying is time flies when you’re having fun and we certainly had fun attending the annual Epilepsy Awareness Day and Expo at Disneyland Resort on November 18-20, 2024. This event is the largest gathering of epilepsy patients and physicians in the world and Epilepsy Alliance America is proud to be a national partner with Sofie’s Journey in bringing together advocates, clinicians, and epilepsy warriors at the happiest (and purplest!) place on Earth.

This year, Epilepsy Alliance America was able to sponsor two families to attend this event and and additional twelve families attended through the sponsorship of our  member organizations! All sponsored families were invited to a welcome dinner hosted by Epilepsy Alliance America.  Along with the delicious food, they were able to enjoy meeting one another and hearing from patient advocate, Danielle Lance, who shared her own story of the ups and down that come along with an epilepsy diagnosis.

The Expo brought together advocacy organizations, medical experts, and most importantly, families directly impacted by epilepsy. Many families expressed gratitude and relief to have access to resources and information that will be impactful in how they approach epilepsy treatment and to connect with other families and caregivers who truly understand what it means to live with an epilepsy diagnosis.

Our annual dance party was once again a blast and a great way for everyone to enjoy themselves in a safe and sensory-friendly environment. Families were able to dress in their favorite Disney attire and dance the night away, while also enjoying food, games, prizes, and live entertainment provided by Drew Dixon of Electric Minds Foundation and the cast of It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!

And of course, we had to end the trip by turning Disneyland purple! Families were able to enjoy a beautiful, sunny California day at the park together.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year and we hope you’ll join us! Save the dates for November 10-12, 2025! You can learn more about Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland at their website.