Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference 2026

After epilepsy surgery, many children have vision changes like hemianopia, CVI-related characteristics, eye movement problems, or visual fatigue that can make school and daily life harder. This session will explain these issues in plain language and focus on practical tools and strategies.

We’ll look at common situations (reading, copying from the board, moving around safely, using screens) and explore environmental changes, low- to high-tech tools and questions you can bring to your child’s IEP or school team You’ll leave with concrete ideas and language to help you advocate for the vision supports and assistive tools that fit your child and your family.

For families navigating a complex medical journey, life can often feel like a never-ending cycle of clinical appointments. Many parents carry "therapy guilt," the heavy feeling that if their child isn’t in a formal therapy session, they aren't making progress. This session is an invitation to reclaim childhood and shift the perspective from the clinic to the community.

Join us for a dynamic discussion on how "functional gains" often occur most naturally outside the hospital walls. Learn how accessible play, communication, and adaptive recreation provide the ultimate stage for social-emotional well-being. We will dive into how to ensure our children have a true voice in social settings and how the right tools and environments unlock a world of participation and belonging. Whether it’s a Saturday at an adaptive sports event or a community social club, we want to show you that these moments aren't just "breaks" from therapy; they are where skills come to life.

Our speakers will discuss:

• How neurologists purposefully choose anti-seizure medications (ASMs) that can pull double-duty by also improving sleep or behavior, and how they avoid medications that make irritability or night-waking worse. For children who are not on ASMs, our speakers will explain how they safely introduce medications for sleep or behavior without lowering the seizure threshold or triggering new seizures.
• How to safely choose and combine medications to manage anxiety, depression, attention issues, and executive functioning deficits without disrupting seizure control.
• Common challenges that arise during the transition from pediatric to adult neurology, including what happens when adult providers are more hesitant to prescribe or manage ADHD and other psychiatric medications that were started in childhood.

You will leave with practical tips on how to track symptoms, what information to bring to appointments, how to know when to bring up your concerns, and what questions to ask so you can confidently partner with your neurology team to help your child thrive.

The main goal of epilepsy surgery is to stop or reduce seizures. However, keeping your child comfortable and able to move well is just as important to their independence. Large resective surgeries (such as frontal lobectomy, hemispherectomy, or TPO resection) can affect how a child walks, sits, and balances. Often, these physical changes don't appear until years later, when a child hits a growth spurt or starts puberty.
In this session, we will discuss:

• What to watch for: How to spot tight muscles (spasticity), stiff joints (contractures), or changes in how your child sits and walks.
• Managing growth: Why growth spurts and puberty can make movement harder and how to plan for "big" transitions, like moving across a large school campus.
• Building your care team: When to see a physiatrist, orthopedist, orthotist, or seating specialist.
• Practical tools: How bracing, Botox, and assistive devices can help home, school, and the community.
• Transitioning to Adulthood: Preparing teenagers to manage their own physical health.

You’ll leave with a clear plan to help your child stay active, comfortable, and independent as they grow into adulthood.