Alina Kislenko is turning her 2017 YMCA-YWCA of Guelph Women of Distinction honour into a platform for bringing greater awareness to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger’s. She lives with both conditions.
Kislenko runs the ADHD and Asperger’s Centre on Quebec Street, which offers professional services for those with the developmental disorders.
A number of new initiatives are being launched, including a class in improvisation to help curb social anxiety, and courses on video making geared to helping those living in poverty earn extra income by sharing their expertise. Learn more at www.adhdinterrupted.com/support-groups--classes.html.
“It felt really special,” she said in a recent interview, speaking of the Women of Distinction recognition. She was among 30 local women honoured this year. A celebration and ceremony is scheduled for the evening of May 4 at the River Run Centre.
“Being a woman, there are so many more obstacles that are often in the way,” she continued. “As well, I have a bunch of things. I’m ADHD and Asperger’s, I have a lazy eye, and I’m an immigrant. So it’s really nice that Women of Distinction are considering women of diversity.”
She said when people learn that she has these conditions they are often shocked that she is able to function at a high level.
“Essentially they will act like it’s really impressive that I’m standing upright,” she said. “And I realized that people really don’t know very much about ADHD and Asperger’s. There is so much stigma, like everyone with ADHD is just really lazy, or with Asperger’s there is this idea that you’re not functional at all, or you’re faking it.”
She wants to foster a broader discussion on the unique needs of those with the conditions, and a better understanding of how the conditions are expressed through behaviour and special capacities.
“Some day, I hope to never even have to tell someone that I have ADHD or Asperger’s, and that no one will be labeled because everyone will be treated so uniquely,” she said. “People would understand that all sorts of things are at play, and that people aren’t just bad or good.”
People with ADHD and Asperger’s, she said, have very unique types of brains, and have “super powers” as a result. But there is a long way to go before that is generally understood.
The new improvisation class is open to all, but designed to be ADHD and Asperger’s friendly. It is facilitated by Lauren Stein, who holds a master’s degree in expressive arts therapy, and runs Laurentina’s Improv Club. She is a pioneer in the use of improvisation as therapy.
“The research is really huge for drama and improv being really big for social anxiety, for building social skills, helping you think on your feet, and helping people get beyond feeling judged,” Kislenko said. The next improv therapy class runs from April 19 to May 10, with four sessions. It costs $120 plus tax. It’s open to all.
The centre is also offering Teaching Women, a program that essentially helps women to find their area of expertise and teach others.
“Everybody really has an area of expertise, but those areas are often covered up,” said Kislenko, who believed she was “bad at everything” until she found that her Asperger’s brain “hoovers all the facts,” and realized that was a strength.
“So many people think they are horrible at so much stuff, but for the people close to them it is so obvious what they are good at,” she said. “I think everybody is an expert in something.”
Women with ADHD or Asperger’s are not always able to thrive in the current job market. Their social manner and other challenges can get in the way of showing their expertise and genius. Kislenko wants to help those living in poverty find ways to earn income at home. Research shows, she said, that when women earn additional money they typically use it for the betterment of their family.
“I want to help them find their area of expertise and create video courses,” she said. “Video courses are one of the best ways to make money online nowadays.”
The first course starts on May 5 and is eight weeks in duration.
“The ADHD and Asperger’s brain is a specialist brain,” she added. “It is made to become really good at a couple of things, and become obsessed with them.”
There is a great deal of expertise inherent in that tendency.
Contact Kisleno at [email protected], (519) 830-1423.
