ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 226 - From Classrooms to Communities - Parents Visionary Journey in Education, Living, and Advocacy for Inclusion and Epilepsy Funding with Jillian and Scott Copeland
Jillian and Scott Copeland are husband and wife, advocates and pioneers who have transformed their personal journey of having a child diagnosed with epilepsy. They have taken off on a quest to create supportive and inclusive environments for kids with disabilities and founded a school, an inclusive living community and the Epilepsies Action Network. They're a force also shaping the policy landscape.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Can you first tell us about yourselves and your family?
Our journey started about 30 years ago and we've had four sons. Our third son, Nicol, is about to turn 25 years old and when he was 8 months old, he had a prolonged seizure for over two hours and it took us on a different parenting journey than we expected. Since then, we've raised our children together and explored opportunities and possibilities for Nicol, which took us down the path that brings us to today. Our journey with Nicol has given our family a lot of meaning and purpose and it's been an amazing journey.
Given that genetic testing hasn't revealed answers for what has caused his epilepsy, how have you managed to navigate the uncertainty and maintained such positivity and strength?
Nicol is the lead, the model and we follow his example. Nicol is a wonderful model and he shares a lot of love and joy. He will have a terrible seizure, have to be medicated, feel awful after and wake up the next day with joy. We've had to manage fear and worry, but we take on Nicol's "the sky's the limit" and "can-do" attitude. We don't have the power to control or change a lot, but we do have a choice in how we see it and how we live life. We're both controlling people, but we had to come to terms with what we couldn't control. We'll keep living to the fullest and sharing and feeling love the best we can.
Can you tell us about The Diener School?
When Nicol was six, he was attending a school that wasn't the best fit for him and we decided to start a school. We found great partners and professionals to help us and we started The Diener School in 2007. The school is a multi-sensory experiential approach with very talented educators, therapists and behavior specialists who work with the kids and with each other. There are elements of the connection of movement and learning, social thinking and other essential curricula and strategies needed for kids who don't learn traditionally and learn through the senses.
What is Main Street all about?
Main Street is a 70 unit building in Rockville, Maryland where 25% of the units are set aside for individuals with disabilities and 75% of the units are affordable, serving households at 60% or less of the area's median income. On the ground floor, there's a 10,000 square foot community space and it's an inclusive environment open to anybody through membership. It's a place for people to find their happy, to be a part of a community and feel like they belong.
What is the Epilepsies Action Network?
Epilepsies Action Network brings together a widespread community of epilepsies in one unified voice to lobby the federal government for funds for the epilepsies because it's an under-funded disease, and as a result, there haven't been a lot of treatment advances or breakthroughs.
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