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Sophie Morgan, diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 13, has undergone extensive efforts to live a “normal” life, including invasive brain surgeries and numerous medications. Despite holding both an undergraduate and a master’s degree, the 28-year-old from Newport faces immense obstacles securing employment. Over the past year, Sophie has applied to 300 jobs but received only one interview, which ended without success. Employers often respond by saying they “cannot facilitate” her condition, and recruiters reportedly become uncommunicative as soon as her epilepsy is mentioned.
Sophie described the job search experience as a relentless struggle, likening it to “trying to find a needle in a haystack” and emphasizing that it is “10 times harder” for individuals with epilepsy. She feels unfairly perceived as a workplace problem despite her qualifications, stating, “I’m qualified, I’m experienced, I would like to say I’m a nice person… I don’t think I’m an issue for a workplace, but they always seem to think I’m an issue.” Although equipped with a bachelor’s degree in education focused on additional learning needs and inclusion and a master’s degree in developmental and therapeutic play, Sophie continues to face repeated rejections.
In 2024, Sophie underwent two brain surgeries in an attempt to locate the source of her seizures. Unfortunately, doctors determined that removing the problematic brain area would be too risky. This outcome was devastating for Sophie, who had pinned hopes on surgery offering her a chance at greater freedom. She expressed her disappointment: “The fact that both of my surgeries failed… it almost felt like I did it all for nothing.” Following the procedures, she needed 24-hour care during recovery and had to temporarily discontinue her medication. As a result, Sophie left her job in children’s education and gave up her rented home in Swansea, a step she recalls as heartbreaking given the pride she felt when initially securing the flat.
Currently living with her cousin in Newport, Sophie has had to extend what was supposed to be a six-month stay into two years due to her inability to secure employment. She explained, “Because I can’t find a job, I can’t move out. If I could get a job that could all change, but it just seems employers aren’t open enough, they aren’t opening their arms to people with epilepsy.” The situation has severely affected her mental health, as she added, “It has been really really difficult, and my mental health has been a massive hit.” Sophie is not alone in facing workplace discrimination; a survey by Epilepsy Action found that six out of ten people with epilepsy reported discrimination. Additionally, nearly half of 500
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