At Young Adults with Epilepsy (YAWE), our mission is to foster resilience and independence in young adults with epilepsy. Through education, empowerment, and sustained support, we aim to transform lives by facilitating access to resources, promoting awareness, and creating a nurturing community that embraces diversity and inclusivity.
Epilepsy affects 50 million people worldwide and over 4,000 in Monterey County, yet stigma and lack of education persist, especially in Spanish-speaking communities. Up to 80% of people with epilepsy report experiencing stigma.
Young Adults with Epilepsy (YAWE), a peer-led organization, is uniquely positioned to change this. We bring lived experience, cultural competence, and creativity using storytelling, education, and peer support to normalize epilepsy and change lives.
Language access and cultural stigma remain key barriers to safety and care for many Spanish-speaking families. With your support, Monterey County can become a model of seizure safety, awareness, and inclusion, starting with Salinas and scaling across the region.
YAWE is also conducting a groundbreaking neurofeedback research study in Monterey, CA on non-pharmacological interventions to alleviate epileptic symptoms, measure mental health, and track the effectiveness of our work.
Together, we can create a community where no young person with epilepsy feels alone.
Epilepsy impacts 1 in 26 people in Monterey County, yet stigma and lack of education persist—especially in Spanish-speaking and rural communities. YAWE, a peer-led organization, is uniquely positioned to change that. 80% of people with epilepsy report stigma or discrimination, with rates 20–40% higher among Spanish-speaking populations than comparable English-speaking groups in the U.S. This is even more detrimental when considering one in three young adults have anxiety or depression— more than double the general population. We have hosted 73 peer support groups and held in-person meetups with over 250 locals. With the full support of Congressman Jimmy Panetta and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors amplifying our message, our Spanish peer support groups are creating measurable impact for this doubly underserved population.
I’d never met anyone else with epilepsy before YAWE. Now I’m part of a community that makes me feel seen and supported.
- Austin Cole, Carmel Valley
