YAWE at 3: Empowering Young Adults with Epilepsy Through Support & Community

wendysteelmarketin
2 days ago
2 min read

Three years ago, Young Adults with Epilepsy started with a simple but powerful idea: no young adult should have to navigate epilepsy alone. What began as a small, hopeful vision has grown into a vibrant community rooted in peer support, advocacy, and real connection. Today, we’re celebrating three years of showing up for one another—and looking ahead to what’s next.

As Young Adults with Epilepsy (YAWE) celebrates its third anniversary, we reflect on it's growth, community-building, and empowering young adults living with epilepsy. YAWE was created to provide a supportive community, epilepsy peer support, and educational resources for young adults navigating life with epilepsy and that mission still holds true.

We Expanded Peer Support and Programs for Young Adults with Epilepsy - close to 40% growth

In 2025, YAWE served over 2,600 young adults through peer support groups, workshops, Discord communities, and Instagram Live events. Our epilepsy peer support program continues to have measurable impact:

90% feel more connected to others with epilepsy
85% report improved overall quality of life
80% feel more capable of advocating for themselves in healthcare and daily life

We expanded programs to include women’s, men’s, Spanish-language, and 1:1 sessions, running Monday through Thursday and Sunday. Additional Schor Scholars joined our programs, enhancing mentorship and engagement across the epilepsy community.

Peer Support team and scheduled times — We have support groups several days a week, including a Women's and Men's Group

Advocacy, Awareness, and Milestones

YAWE continues to advocate for young adults with epilepsy at local, state, and national levels:

Meetings with Congressman Jimmy Panetta - who joined the bi-partisan Epilepsy Caucus and joining Epilepsy Alliance America
Presentations at the California State Capitol and California Neurology Society (CNS)
Monterey County Supervisors creating a resolution for “Young Adults with Epilepsy Week”

Congressman Jimmy Panetta joins the Epilepsy Caucus — We are so grateful to have Jimmy Panetta's support representing our epilepsy community!

Milestone events included our first Gala, Walk 4 Epilepsy Monterey, and Epilepsy Day at Disney. Our podcast, Carpe Seizen’, continues to inspire and inform, including a feature on Greg Grunberg’s “Talk About It” podcast.

Abby and Chels join Greg Grunberg on his "Talk About It" Podcast — Abby and Chels joining Greg Grunberg on his "Talk About It" Podcast

Digital Growth and Online Visibility

YAWE’s online presence grew significantly in 2025:

>5K social media followers
Digital reach surpassed 1 million views
Google Ads and SEO initiatives increased visibility, with 35% of young adults discovering peer support through Google
YAWE secured an SEO score of 100% and accessibility score 95%
Blogs generated over 4,000 visits

A Look Ahead: 2026

In 2026, YAWE will continue to:

Expand peer support programs through partnerships, retreats, and events
Scale Spanish-language epilepsy support with a grant from Salinas Valley Health
Offer Peer Support Team Certification
Launch medically led panels and podcast episodes focused on seizure management and triggers

Empowering Young Adults with Epilepsy-Mission Continues

Thank you to all our young adults, families, donors, and supporters. YAWE exists because of you, and together, we’re building a future where young adults living with epilepsy feel empowered, connected, and supported.