.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Epilepsy, a disorder that causes people to have recurring seizures, is the third most common neurological disorder in the United States, and Greater Des Moines and Iowa residents now have a local resource.

On Sept. 5, Des Moines became home to the Epilepsy Foundation North/Central Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska’s first Iowa office.

“Information, support and advocacy are our three main focuses,” said Karly Ashlock, service coordinator for the Epilepsy Foundation’s Iowa office.

The mission of the foundation states that it “will ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and will prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research.”

Though the North/Central affiliate of the Epilepsy Foundation has been serving Iowans since 2004, Cedar Rapids resident Dale Todd noticed a need for an Iowa-based office. Todd’s young son has epilepsy and can experience between 5 to 20 seizures a day.

As the initial advocate for the new location, Todd worked to receive an annual grant from the state that began July 1 and is now president of the Community Council Advisory Board.

With the establishment and funding for the office in place, Ashlock is working to increase the foundation’s presence, build relationships with the local community and start support groups. In 2008, Ashlock said, groups are scheduled to begin in Greater Des Moines and near the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.

“I have been around to the neurologists to build relationships with them personally so we can work together to give clients and patients what they need and what is best for them,” Ashlock said.

Long-term goals for the North/Central Epilepsy Foundation’s Iowa office include creating more support groups throughout the state, beginning local fund raising, increasing awareness and support in Iowa and someday branching off and becoming its own affiliate of the national office.

“Working with Rockford has been great, but it would also be great to have our own (affiliate) that is run here in Iowa, with more staffers and more offices throughout the state,” Ashlock said.

Based on national averages, Ashlock said the foundation estimated that it will be able to serve approximately 30,000 people in Iowa.

“We have accomplished more in the first six months than we thought,” Ashlock said.