South West Illinois News

State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has been awarded the 2020 Inspirational Commitment Hero Award by the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.

A member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2015, Bryant last year was the chief sponsor of the Seizure Smart School Act, which was legislation started by the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.

The legislation was signed into law this past summer by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and requires all Illinois public school employees to be trained in seizure recognition. It also requires parents or guardians of children with epilepsy to submit an action plan with the respective schools.

Bryant’s husband, Rick, has dealt with a seizure disorder for most of his life.

“While Rick was in school, he struggled with the stigma associated with seizures,” Bryant said on RepBryant.com. “Rick struggled not because of a mean spirit of those in his school, but because people were not educated as far as how to handle someone experiencing a seizure.”

Bryant said she is “honored” to receive such a prestigious award.

“Thank you to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago for this award. I feel honored and humbled,” Bryant said on RepBryant.com. “I am proud to partner with an organization that advocates to make a positive difference in the lives of people suffering with seizure disorders and I plan to continue to represent the interests of children and adults that live with epilepsy and other seizure disorders as long as I have the opportunity to make a difference.”