Creating Epilepsy-Friendly Public Spaces in the UK: A Roadmap for Inclusion

In the UK, approximately 600,000 people live with epilepsy—about 1 in 100 individuals. For many, navigating public spaces can present unexpected challenges and barriers that most people never consider. From flickering lights in shopping centres to inaccessible emergency assistance in public toilets, these environments can be anxiety-inducing, potentially dangerous, and sometimes completely inaccessible for people with epilepsy.

Creating truly inclusive public spaces requires understanding how epilepsy affects individuals and implementing practical solutions that benefit everyone. This post explores how we can make our shared environments more epilepsy-friendly and outlines the path toward meaningful change in the UK.

Understanding the Challenges

People with epilepsy face several challenges in public spaces:

• Environmental Triggers: Certain elements can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy, including flickering lights, strobe effects, and some visual patterns.
• Safety Concerns: Hard surfaces, sharp edges, and crowded areas increase injury risk during seizures.
• Emergency Response Issues: Lack of accessible emergency buttons or trained staff to assist during a seizure.
• Social Barriers: Misunderstanding and stigma that can lead to inappropriate responses when someone has a seizure in public.
• Accessibility Gaps: Limited rest areas, inadequate signage, or spaces that become inaccessible after a seizure occurs.

Key Areas for Improvement

1. Lighting and Visual Environment

Current Issues:

• Flickering fluorescent lighting in shops, offices, and public buildings
• Unnecessary strobe effects in entertainment venues
• Digital screens and advertisements with rapid flashing content
• Reflective surfaces creating uncomfortable glare

Solutions:

• Replace fluorescent lighting with LED lighting systems that operate above flicker-threshold frequencies
• Require warning signs for any intentional strobe effects and provide alternative routes that avoid exposure
• Regulate digital advertising to prevent rapid flashing sequences (maximum of 3 flashes per second)
• Use matt finishes and anti-glare coatings where possible
• Implement daylight-mimicking systems that reduce harsh contrasts

2. Physical Safety Features

Current Issues:

• Hard flooring materials throughout public spaces
• Lack of padded or protective elements in high-risk areas
• Inadequate space for someone experiencing a seizure
• Sharp corners and edges on furniture and installations

Solutions:

• Incorporate impact-absorbing flooring in key areas
• Create “safe zones” with padded seating and fall protection
• Ensure adequate space between furniture items for safe movement
• Choose furniture with rounded edges and corners in public buildings
• Install discreet padded wall sections in strategic locations

3. Emergency Response Systems

Current Issues:

• Standard emergency cords in accessible toilets difficult to reach during a seizure
• Limited first aid knowledge among staff in public venues
• Inconsistent emergency protocols across different public spaces
• Difficulty accessing medical help quickly

Solutions:

• Install seizure-alert systems in accessible toilets and changing rooms
• Provide epilepsy first aid training for all front-line staff in public venues
• Create standardised emergency response protocols specific to seizures
• Develop “Epilepsy First Aid Point” designated locations in large venues
• Implement QR codes in public spaces linking to immediate first aid information

4. Rest and Recovery Spaces

Current Issues:

• Limited quiet areas for recovery after a seizure
• Lack of private spaces in busy public venues
• Insufficient seating areas throughout public spaces
• Overwhelming sensory environments with no escape options

Solutions:

• Designate “quiet zones” in shopping centres, transport hubs, and public buildings
• Create discreet recovery rooms with comfortable seating and minimal stimulation
• Increase seating availability throughout public spaces
• Design sensory-considerate spaces with acoustic dampening and visual calm
• Ensure recovery spaces have water available and are temperature-controlled

5. Information and Wayfinding

Current Issues:

• Complex navigation systems in large venues
• Inconsistent signage for accessible facilities
• Limited information about epilepsy-friendly features
• Inaccessible information formats

Solutions:

• Develop clear, consistent symbols for epilepsy-friendly spaces
• Create simple navigation systems with colour-coding and pictograms
• Use digital wayfinding apps specifically highlighting accessible and epilepsy-friendly routes
• Provide information in multiple formats (visual, audio, easy-read)
• Include epilepsy considerations in accessibility guides for venues

Making It Happen: A UK Action Plan

Policy and Legislation

• Building Regulations Update: Incorporate epilepsy-friendly requirements into Part M of Building Regulations alongside other accessibility standards
• Equality Act Application: Strengthen guidance on “reasonable adjustments” to explicitly include epilepsy considerations
• Planning Requirements: Include epilepsy impact assessments in planning applications for new public buildings

Standards and Certification

• Develop a British Standard: Create a specific British Standard for epilepsy-friendly environments (similar to dementia-friendly standards)
• Certification Programme: Establish an “Epilepsy Friendly” certification that venues can achieve and display
• Incorporate into Existing Schemes: Add epilepsy criteria to existing accessibility rating schemes like Changing Places

Local Authority Initiatives

• Local Access Plans: Include epilepsy considerations in local authority access strategies
• Council-Owned Properties: Make all council-owned public buildings exemplars of epilepsy-friendly design
• Public Procurement: Include epilepsy-friendly requirements in public procurement contracts

Business Engagement

• Retail Consortium Guidelines: Develop retail-specific guidelines through the British Retail Consortium
• Business Incentives: Create recognition programmes for businesses implementing epilepsy-friendly measures
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Encourage businesses to include epilepsy accessibility in CSR reporting

Community Involvement

• Lived Experience Input: Ensure people with epilepsy are involved in designing and testing solutions
• Community Audits: Support community groups to conduct epilepsy-friendly audits of local spaces
• Feedback Mechanisms: Create simple ways for people to report issues and suggest improvements

Success Stories: What’s Already Working

Several UK initiatives already demonstrate the potential for improvement:

1. Epilepsy Safe Mode in Digital Spaces

Some UK websites now offer “Epilepsy Safe Mode” that:

• Eliminates flashing animations and auto-playing videos
• Reduces moving content
• Minimises colour contrasts
• Removes potentially triggering visual effects

This digital approach could inspire physical environment adaptations.

2. Epilepsy-Friendly Cinema Screenings

Select cinemas across the UK offer epilepsy-friendly screenings with:

• Adjusted lighting levels (lights dimmed but not fully dark)
• Reduced sound volume
• No strobe effects or rapid light changes in advertisements
• Relaxed atmosphere where movement is accepted
• Trained staff familiar with seizure first aid

3. Changing Places Toilets

The Changing Places campaign has successfully advocated for fully accessible toilets. This model could be expanded to incorporate specific epilepsy safety features such as:

• Emergency floor padding that deploys when alarm cords are pulled
• Anti-suffocation pillows
• Seizure detection systems

4. Sensory-Considerate Museum Spaces

Several UK museums have created spaces that work well for people with various neurological conditions, including epilepsy:

• Controlled lighting environments
• Quiet rooms for sensory breaks
• Detailed accessibility guides identifying potential trigger areas
• Staff trained in recognising and responding to various neurological conditions

Next Steps: How You Can Help

For Business Owners and Venue Managers:

1. Conduct an epilepsy-friendly audit of your premises
2. Train staff in epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid
3. Create a designated quiet space for recovery
4. Review your lighting systems and eliminate unnecessary flashing elements
5. Develop a clear emergency response protocol for seizures

For Local Authorities:

1. Include epilepsy considerations in all accessibility planning
2. Engage with local epilepsy support groups when designing public spaces
3. Require epilepsy impact assessments for new developments
4. Create epilepsy-friendly exemplar spaces in council buildings
5. Support local businesses to implement epilepsy-friendly measures

For Individuals and Advocates:

1. Share experiences of public spaces with local authorities and businesses
2. Join or support organisations like Epilepsy Action or Epilepsy Society
3. Request epilepsy awareness training in your workplace or community venues
4. Promote positive examples of epilepsy-friendly spaces on social media
5. Report accessibility issues to the appropriate authorities

Conclusion

Creating epilepsy-friendly public spaces isn’t just about compliance or ticking boxes—it’s about ensuring that everyone can participate fully in public life without unnecessary barriers or fears. The changes that benefit people with epilepsy often improve spaces for everyone, creating calmer, safer, and more accessible environments.

With approximately 87 people diagnosed with epilepsy every day in the UK, this is not a niche issue but a significant public health and equality matter. By implementing these practical changes, we can move toward a more inclusive society where epilepsy doesn’t limit anyone’s ability to access and enjoy public spaces.

Through collaborative efforts between people with epilepsy, healthcare professionals, architects, designers, business owners, and policymakers, we can transform the UK’s public spaces into truly epilepsy-friendly environments—making them better for everyone in the process.