Janice Gay, founder of the Epilepsy Coalition of New York State, Inc. 

Janice Gay founded the Epilepsy Coalition of New York State in 1999.

Her mission was to provide comprehensive services to people with epilepsy and their families to assist them in reaching optimal growth potential, independence, community acceptance, and the best possible quality of life.

Janice was relentless in this mission which actually began many years before the Coalition existed. As a young mother of a child with epilepsy she was keenly aware of the lack of services for people with epilepsy and their families.  To change this, she founded The Epilepsy Society of Southern NY in 1977 and actively sought to develop programs and services.  A main focus of her work was to also provide education and training to reduce the stigma surrounding epilepsy.  Her pursuit and passion to help people was so great that it could not be confined to the Hudson Valley.  In 1999 she took her mission state-wide and established the Epilepsy Coalition of New York State.  This Coalition currently includes six organizations across New York State including The Epilepsy Foundation Northeastern NY, The Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, The Epilepsy Alliance of West Central NY, The Epilepsy Association of Western NY, The Epilepsy Foundation Metro NY, and Capabilities Partnership, Inc dba The Epilepsy Society of Southern NY.

Sadly, Janice passed away this year. To honor all that she did to help those with epilepsy, the organizations in the Epilepsy Coalition of New York State hereby dedicate this educational conference as well as the library in the Coalition Headquarters in the Hudson Valley to our Founder, Janice Gay.  Janice’s daughter, Leslie Gay, will be joining us at the conference to offer a few words in memory of her mother