2021-10-25

The International Bureau of Epilepsy established the “Golden Light Award” to encourag young people with epilepsy and enhance the society’s understanding of epilepsy. Even though people with epilepsy experience inconvenience in their daily lives, they should not bear the label of remaining stagnant, but instead live according to their own values.

After Doctor Chou Meng-Leo received the Golden Light Award from the “13th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress” recommended by the Taiwan Epilepsy Association, he was once again recognized by the International Bureau of Epilepsy and won the honor of the International Golden Light Award at the “34th International Epilepsy Congress”. Doctor Chou received the award and made his speech through an online meeting on September 1.

Doctor Chou owns dual identity of a person with epilepsy and also a neurologist. Facing the public’s stigmatization and labeling of epilepsy, he still led 6 brilliant young people with epilepsy to take part in the “Taiwan Epilepsy Youth Summit” organized by the Tainan Epilepsy Association. At the summit, they made suggestions to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the young people with epilepsy spoke out for their rights, demonstrating the outstanding leadership of Doctor Chou.

Through this award, we hope that the world can not only learn about this shining young man from Taiwan, but also call upon the public to understand and accept people with epilepsy and create an environment that is friendly for them.

The International Participation of the Taiwan Epilepsy Association

We actively take part in international conferences and organizations and move towards internationalization. At the 22nd International Epilepsy Congress held in 1997, we became an official member of the International Bureau of Epilepsy.

Taiwan is a popular member in the joint conferences of the International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau of Epilepsy, in which many doctors take part in international affairs and also served in major posts. For example, Shih Mao-Hsiung and Lai Shung-Lon have served as the “vice president” of the International Bureau of Epilepsy. Both not only played major roles in the international medical science community for epilepsy, but have also focused their efforts on domestic and overseas aid while promoting health education campaigns on epilepsy.

For people with epilepsy, the hardest thing is not their physical pain, but rather social discrimination and bias. Epilepsy-related organizations around the world have put in their best efforts to actively promote related medical treatment and services, improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy, and encourage them to walk out of the shadow of this illness. It is hoped that people from around the world can learn about epilepsy and accept it, so that more people with epilepsy can open their hearts to their families and face life courageously.

Article and photos courtesy of Taiwan Epilepsy Association