Epilepsy 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 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.

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 Florida and members of their immediate family are not eligible to participate as applicants to this program. Board members of Epilepsy 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 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 Florida approve an exception to the standard residency requirements. Typically, no Board approval is needed.