"Diffability" by Alice Duva, used with permission

Diffability -noun

1. To perform in a manner physically, cognitively or emotionally that is not consistent with a standard  population.              

2. Different capability recognized as out of the norm.

3. A person who operates differently abled.

4. Individual performance that another person may interpret as negative or lacking because it does not appear to be standard in their society.

That man has a diffability because he is in a wheelchair and cannot stand up to reach for things on the tall shelf.

My friend in school has individual instruction from the teacher because she is diffabled.

People with diffabilities have to do some things differently than I do.

There are still some people out there who think that anyone with a diffability is lacking in some way. They do not realize that under many circumstances people that have diffabilities can learn to do something if it is taught in a different way or modified. So, a person that is diffabled has endless possibilities.

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Alice Duva is a horseback riding instructor in Nashville. Photo credit: Illustration by "Gracie," an 11-year-old living with Asperger's and the daughter of Jenna Farelyn who blogs at mademorebeautiful.com.