Epilepsy – Autism Connection of Pennsylvania

Autism Safety Expo on October 30th Puts Home, Community and Financial Security in One Place

Families, first responders and financial professionals will share practical tools for keeping autistic people safe, including protecting their money.

Monroeville, PA — October 28, 2026 — Autism Connection of PA will host the Autism Safety Expo on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Monroeville Volunteer Fire Department #4, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The expo gives autistic people, their families and caregivers one place to learn how to stay safe at home, in the community and online, and how to protect their financial well-being.

Safety Means More Than Locks and Seat Belts

Safety for autistic people covers physical risks and financial ones, and the expo treats both as essential. Attendees can expect information and resources on:

Home and wandering safety: Preventing and responding to elopement, plus tracking tools and home modifications.
Emergency response: How first responders can recognize autism and communicate effectively, and how families can prepare for a crisis.
Community and school safety: Strategies for public spaces, transportation and school settings.
Online safety: Protecting autistic youth and adults from predatory behavior and harmful contact.
Financial security: Defending against scams, fraud and financial exploitation, and planning for long-term stability.

Financial security belongs in any conversation about safety. Autistic adults can be targeted by scams and by people who take advantage of trust, and a single loss can threaten housing, benefits and independence. The financial sessions will cover spotting common scams, safeguarding benefits, and planning tools such as ABLE accounts and special needs trusts, which can help people with disabilities save without losing eligibility for certain public benefits.

Event Details

We listened when autistic people and their families told us what matters most to them: being safe and secure at home, in the community, and online. This expo is our way of bringing friendly faces, helpful resources, and real answers together under one roof.


Event	Autism Safety Expo
Date	Friday, October 30, 2026
Time	9:00am – 5:00pm
Location	Monroeville Volunteer Fire Department #4 4370 Northern Pike Monroeville, PA 15146
Admission	Free
Registration	No registration required

About Autism Connection of PA

Autism Connection of PA has served autistic people of all ages and their families since 1996, offering support, resources, and guidance at every stage of life. As an independent nonprofit, Autism Connection of PA connects people to the support, information, and advocacy they need.

International Epilepsy Day is observed annually on the second Monday of February to raise awareness and to promote understanding and acceptance. The theme for International Epilepsy Day 2023 is “Epilepsy in the Workplace,” which highlights the challenges people with epilepsy face at work, and the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments.

The earliest mentions of epilepsy can be traced back to Babylonian tablets from around 2000 BCE, where it was referred to as the “sacred disease.”* In ancient Greece, the physician Hippocrates wrote extensively about the condition, and attempted to distinguish it from other conditions, such as possession by demons. The word “epilepsy” itself comes from the Greek word “epilambanein,” which means “to seize.”

Epilepsy and autism are two distinct medical conditions, but they can co-occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one-third of people autistic people also have epilepsy. This overlap is more commonly seen in people with severe autism and intellectual disability.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurring seizures, which are sudden and brief disturbances in the electrical activity of the brain. There are many different types of epilepsy, and the exact cause of the seizures can vary. Autism, on the other hand, affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. It is a spectrum disorder, which means that the symptoms and severity can vary greatly from person to person. It is important to note that while epilepsy and autism can co-occur, one does not cause the other. If someone has both conditions, they will typically receive separate diagnoses and treatment plans for each.

If you have questions about epilepsy, visit our friends at the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA.

** “The Diagnostic Handbook: A Babylonian Terrestrial Atlas” by Emma Wasserman, Brill, Leiden, 2000.