Diffability Page Not a disability

            Now that you have an idea of his message, it's time to learn and share his new word of the day, (Although it should be a new word in life) It's called Diff-Ability short for Different Abilities. Every person has different abilities. You can't think of too many words that begin with those three letters dis that's positive. Dis implies the negative, for example, words like discouraging, disheartening and disadvantaged only focuses on your limitations. Why put a negative tone in the beginning of a persons condition, isn't that disturbing? Tony says "That a disability is surrendering to your problems, we all have some kind of limitation". Moreover, Tony feels "A Diff-Ability shows that we all have the chance and the ability to Give and offer others Help." Tony wishes that the word Diff-Ability would make the disability disappear.

             In 1959, Tony was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, with a birth defect known as Arthrogryposis, which locks up all the joints in his arms and legs. This extremely rare condition left his limbs virtually useless. Less than two years old Tony was taken in as a foster child by the Jack and Evelyn Ryals family of five. This was the beginning of so many miracles to come. Without the use of arms for reaching, or workable hands to play with toys, he developed amazing dexterity and coordination using only his mouth and neck. With his new family's Love and encouragement, Tony was soon bringing home sketchy figures and simple elementary drawings of pets, places, family members, or anything that just stuck in his mind. This activity became his favorite outlet to express his feelings. It was like Tony's " Hopes and Day Dreams on canvas".

             My desire is to earn my own way through life, with whatever abilities or talents God has given me. During my preteen years, I noticed how my brothers and sister had to earn their own personal money for things like movies, games, fast food etc.. by cutting yards or baby-sitting. Our parents taught us a strong work ethic from early childhood on. They had an impact on my longing to pay my own way too. Obviously, I could not earn money doing the same things, so my search for jobs I was capable of doing began.

              1974 proved to be a pivotal year in Tony's life. While he noticed his brothers and sister were establishing their futures and careers. He couldn't help but observe how many other disabled people were struggling to the point of literally giving up!. Seeing how society had little alternatives for independent living and mobility, for those without a strong spirit and voice. This was his first reality check about the real world. This deepened a desire to have some kind of stable career, that would give him as much freedom from government assistance as possible. People with disabilities face much higher medical bills, for a number of reasons. For example, equipment like wheelchairs, lifts, ramps, and many other devices needed to just survive each day. most people don't realize the extremely high cost of being disabled . Tony knows he must earn enough money to cover these extra expenses.

His quest for independence began when he became one of the first quadriplegics to ever attend to a normal public high school. This challenge was necessary for his development in socializing with the public along with furthering his education. While at Paxon Jr. High Tony made his first sale. it was an exquisite detailed pencil drawing of a Seminole Indian head. Which sold for Fifty dollars, this was equal to his brothers cutting at least 10 peoples yards. (This dates back when there weren't any self propelled mowers). A career was born. Soon his art was selling and competing successfully in many fine art shows, where even the judges had no idea of his physical impairments.