Personal experience was the motivation behind a major donation set to change access to ADHD assessment for adults in Metro Vancouver.

Professional motorcycle racer Darren James always considered his ADHD an advantage on the track.

“I had ADHD as a superpower. I could focus on something that was so important to me, and it propelled me through a racing career,” he told CityNews.

James was diagnosed with the disorder at age 25. Now, he’s helping other adults get their diagnosis.

The James family donated $7.6 million to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) to establish a new adult ADHD clinic, operated by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Medical Director Dr. Summer Telio explained that it will be the first “MSP-covered, fulsome, team-based ADHD clinic in the province.”

“We are really looking to set a standard in terms of developing practice guidelines for the province and beyond,” she said.

Telio says the clinic will specifically appeal to patients between the ages of 17 and 35 — an age range in which she says “dysfunction from ADHD becomes quite apparent.”

“People with ADHD are trying to make the most of their lives,” she said.

“But find impairments in terms of being able to have healthy relationships, commit to schooling, being able to work to their full capacity.”

James says donating was an easy decision.

“We saw a place in the medical system that needed help, and because our family was so affected by ADHD it was something we were passionate about,” he said.

Learning more about himself as an adult, James says, was life-changing.

“I learned my strengths and weaknesses. And I don’t think it would have ever been possible, if I never had that original consultation with the people at the ADHD clinic.”