We are Adults Hacking ADHD!

We are Adults Hacking ADHD, and we’re so glad you are here!

We have ADHD. It's hard. High-quality, accessible, ADHD-friendly professional services make it less hard. Unfortunately, physicians, therapists, support workers and coaches who can help instead of harm, at prices we can afford, are still really difficult to find in far too many of the places they're needed.

Together, let's figure out how to use peer support, our sense of community and belonging, and the power of coregulation to fill as many of those gaps in care as we can, as best we can.

We are a group of ADHDers committed to creating free content and services for adults with ADHD by adults with ADHD. We use our Mighty Network page at That AHA! Hub to host our bi-weekly peer support group, workshops, co-working sessions, blog posts, resources, and ADHD meet-up events!

Our mission is to provide free supports and a community space for adults with ADHD. We primarily operate out of Ontario, Canada, however our reach has been worldwide.

Our Story

AHA! was born from a desire to connect with community, and help establish a support network during the pandemic. A group of friends began a co-working group on Whats App that then evolved into running a bi-weekly peer support group, and daily co-working events on zoom! A dream to create a not-for-profit organization was born from our desire to bring accessible ADHD friendly supports and work in an environment that understood us and respected us as humans. We wanted to heal from past negative experiences in the work force -our own insecurities from working years as undiagnosed ADHDers- in a space that is safe, surrounded by folks who understand our struggles, and being our own bosses allowing us to work at our own pace and within our own capacities without judgment.

Our vision

 

To use our collective platform to reach adults with ADHD who experience barriers to accessing ADHD supports and services, and to advocate for improved ADHD treatment through peer-led community-based research and education. We want to create a network of free ADHD services and supports for all adults with ADHD.

 

Workshops

Peer Support group meetings

peer Coaching

co-working

self-care groups

guest speakers

resources

advocacy

Research

What we believe in

 

  • We are a Pro-Black, Pro-Indigenous sovereignty, Pro-Queer & Pro-Trans group:

    • We prioritize making space for and uplifting Black, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans voices for workshops, presentations, and other opportunities.

    • We support and promote movements led by Black, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans individuals and organizations.

    We are also an anti-racist, anti-oppressive community. This means we actively work to learn and grow in how we defend and protect people from harm. Everyone in our space is expected to engage in this learning process.

  • We believe that sharing high-quality information about ADHD is essential for both healing and living well with the condition. This information helps us educate ourselves about how our brains work, how ADHD affects our lives, and how we can better navigate a world that isn’t built for us.

    Key areas we believe are important to understand:

    • How our brains work and how this differs from what we were taught.

    • The impact of these differences on our daily lives.

    • Strategies for living better with ADHD in a world that often misunderstands us.

    • The experiences of our peers and how we can learn from each other.

    • The quality of information we share and how we evaluate its truth.

    Understanding ADHD isn’t just about knowing facts—it shapes how we define ourselves, how we feel, and what we believe is possible for us. Information about ADHD can give hope or take it away. Hope grounded in truth is empowering; hope built on misinformation can be devastating.

  • We understand that ADHD is experienced differently based on our race/ethnicity, sex, gender, socio-economic status, and physical/mental abilities. We want to create a space where folks can express the different ways in which ADHD impacts them in all areas of their life while coming together through shared experiences as well.

  • We believe that no one knows us better than ourselves. We also recognize there are many barriers to receiving an official diagnosis of ADHD, including, cost, access to a diagnosing professional, timely, and culturally relevant diagnostic criteria. If you believe you have ADHD, diagnosis or not, you are welcome here.

  • Living with ADHD is complex, and we honour and validate that complexity. We don’t shy away from the challenges or the good things. We encourage open and vulnerable discussions about both the strengths and the struggles of living with ADHD.

    Our approach:

    • Celebrate all progress: Any progress is good progress, and we actively celebrate people's efforts without comparisons.

    • Balanced focus: We focus on the full range of our experience, paying equal attention to both strengths and struggles.

    • Empowerment: We aim to empower each individual in their ADHD journey.

  • We believe the development and experience of ADHD are influenced by:

    • Biology: ADHD is rooted in the unique way our brains & bodies function.

    • Society: The world is often not built for our ways of thinking and operating and often does not support different needs.

    • Environment: ADHD is shaped by our environment on multiple levels—from epigenetic influences and the development of trauma or resilience to our daily experience of symptoms. The systems and structures around us can either support or hinder our ability to cope and thrive.

    This understanding doesn’t diminish the challenges we face, but it helps us reframe ADHD as a difference, not a deficit. While living with ADHD can be difficult, it’s not about being "broken." Instead, it’s about finding ways to adapt our environments so we can shine.

  • We believe in healing through connection and validation. In a supportive community of people who share similar struggles, we can be our authentic selves without fear of judgment. Peer support allows us to heal together and share experiences in a way that fosters mutual understanding and growth.

  • We value lived experience as a vital source of knowledge and insight. Our community is built on:

    • Respectful relationships: We hold each other in a way that both validates and challenges, so we can foster growth and support.

    • Community: We’re stronger together, sharing resources and wisdom.

    • Peer-led initiatives: We prioritize peer leadership and mutual aid to support one another.



  • While we are not equipped to treat acute trauma, we recognize the impact it has on many adhers. We support a trauma-informed approach, including:

    • Predictability: We promote predictability, provide information on meeting expectations, and encourage participants to discuss their boundaries and coping mechanisms with others while ensuring a non-shaming environment

    • Respect for boundaries: Discuss needs and boundaries with other participants and moderators as needed.

    • No shaming: Everyone’s coping mechanisms are valid, and we strive to create a space where no one is shamed for how they cope or has their experience invalidated by prioritizing listening to shared experiences and providing advice only when asked.

    • Medications: This is a safe space to casually discuss the use or non-use of medications for ADHD.

  • What happens in the world around us is not separate from our ADHD experiences. Therefore, we create space for political activism, raising awareness, and discussing issues that impact our community. We recognize that societal factors and politics are deeply interconnected with how we experience ADHD.