News
April 13, 2016Albany Student Selected As 2016 Teen Advocate Representing The Epilepsy Foundation Of Northeastern New York – Will Meet With Members Of Congress In Washington, D.C.
Brianna Smith of Albany, NY is one of only 46 teens with epilepsy in the country selected by the national Epilepsy Foundation to attend the organization’s annual Public Policy Institute / Teens Speak Up! Conference to be held on April 17-19, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the three-day event is to educate teens on how to be an effective advocate for people with epilepsy nationally and in their home state.
Brianna, 13, is the daughter of David Martin and Amber Smith and a sibling of Kristina Raby, 12, David Martin, 8, and Emma Martin, 5. Her first seizure, a complex-partial seizure, was at the age of 11. Despite the fear of having another seizure and restrictions that she encounters, Brianna does not let that stand in her way of having fun. Brianna enjoys bowling, drama, making friends, learning about epilepsy and teaching others about the disorder. Brianna is in the eighth grade at Lisha Kill Middle School
As the 2016 Teen Advocate representing the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, Brianna and her mother will meet with members of Congress from NYS and their staffs on Capitol Hill to talk about living with epilepsy, the need for more federal funding for epilepsy research and legislation of interest to people with epilepsy nationwide. Brittany will continue to advocate on behalf of the epilepsy community on the state and local levels in the months ahead.
