LADY KILLA AIRSOFT
Inspired by a comic and airsoft callsign, Lady Killa Airsoft aims to demonstrate creativity and turning an idea into a reality.
MY STORY
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My journey has been one of failure and triumph.
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For 20 years I have lived with a neurological disorder called Tourette Syndrome. Classified by motor and vocal tics, and affecting each person differently, symptoms vary day to day but having TS is always a challenge for the individuals who live with it. 1 in 100 Canadians are affected with TS, and in the United states 1 in 360, this is approximately 138,000 children. Found on the same spectrum as Autism and Aspergers, unlike them TS is an external disorder, noticeable tics that have caused much stigma from society, disabling children, teens, and even adults to take part in their communities, school, and recreational activities.
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Since coming into the airsoft community I have found that the sport and the work out within is an amazing holistic activity and alternative to medication. The sport and other sports-based activities has allowed me to continue managing my tics and drastically helped with tic suppression. The exercise provided by the sport allows me to direct my tic focus elsewhere, and has not only given me strength but minimized the chronic pain I feel daily because of my twitches.
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Fortunately I was diagnosed with a mild case, but there are many others who are not in the same position. While film and television have portrayed Tourette as compulsive swearing, this is a severe form of Tourette that really does affect individuals. It can be very embarrassing to these individuals and a lot of the time prohibits them from any involvement in the community.
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Throughout the past five years I have been personally involved in the Tourette community, as an individual who was looking for support to my former position as Youth Advocacy Coordinator for the Greater Toronto chapter which I held for three years. Through my personal exploration of holistic activities, I was able to provide this chapter with three two youth programs: a bowling night, which explored sports as a method for tic suppression, and a drumming workshop, which explored music as a healing method. Since then I have also been an in-service presenter, attending schools to educate classrooms ad faculty on TS and how to better assist their students, as well as speaking at the Reclaiming Our Bodies and Minds Conference this past March at Ryerson University.
I am also a recent graduate of the Community Worker program and will be taking a post-graduate program in social service work to further my work within the TS community.
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My decision to create the Lady Killa logo into a patch was simple, not only for my involvement in the airsoft community but to continue to educate and create awareness of this challenging disorder. I will having Custom PVC rubber patches made and selling these patches for $17.50, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Niagara chapter of Tourette Canada.
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Charity #: 11926 7862 RR0001
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Payments can be sent to my PayPal account tinatodaro901910@gmail.com
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I hope that you will join me on my quest to end stigma and helping to create a just an inclusive society for everyone.
CONTACT ME
Do you have a question or inquiry? Feel free to contact me or the Hamilton-Halton-Niagara chapter of Tourette Canada: hhnchapter@tourette.ca
