Epilepsy Alliance Florida Seizure Dog Scholarship

Acknowledging the strong interest in seizure response dogs for persons with epilepsy, and the high cost associated with the purchase of this type of highly trained dog, Epilepsy Alliance Florida has begun a Scholarship Fund to assist individuals/families who are in the process of purchasing a seizure response dog.

Each approved individual/family will be awarded up to $5,000 in scholarship funds.

2021 Seizure Dog Scholarship Fund Recipient

Here’s a highlight from Paddle Steamboat Casino Night on the Farm, an epilepsy benefit event, featuring the recipient of Epilepsy Alliance Florida’s Seizure Dog Scholarship. “Maeve’s first seizure was on her second birthday.” Her mom, Molly, elaborates on her experience with her daughter’s epilepsy and how the Seizure Dog Scholarship will help provide Maeve a seizure dog from Little Angels Service Dogs, specifically trained for children under the age of 12. “Receiving a service dog will help maintain more normalcy for our family and the dog will provide unconditional love and a friend when Maeve needs it.” Maeve’s story is just one of over half a million Floridians living with epilepsy.

Key Elements of Program

1. Applicant must have secured other financial means for purchase of the trained seizure response dog;
2. Applicant must have their neurologist’s recommendation for a seizure response dog;
3. Applicant must have already signed up with a reputable training facility and have been assigned a potential dog;
4. Applicant must be in contract to receive the dog within six months of application (note that wait listed applicants must update their applications if a new contract is initiated);
5. A copy of the signed contract with the training facility must be included with the application.

Eligibility and Limitations

Employees of Epilepsy Alliance Florida and members of their immediate family are not eligible to participate as applicants to this program. Board members of Epilepsy Alliance Florida and members of their immediate family are not eligible to participate as applicants to this program. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws,” or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household, whether or not related.

Financial need is NOT a relevant factor, and the Committee is expressly disallowed from requesting any financial information or other personal credit information as part of the application or selection process. Similarly, other than the applicant’s attestation of a diagnosis of epilepsy and the support of his/her medical team, the Committee is expressly disallowed from requesting any medical information or other personal health data as part of the application or selection process. Age, gender, race, religion, or any other personal source of identity are not relevant factors. Epilepsy Alliance Florida’s mission requires prioritization of Florida residents’ requests, though the Committee retains the right to – in certain circumstances – request that the full Board of Epilepsy Alliance Florida approve an exception to the standard residency requirements. Typically, no Board approval is needed.