Welcome to DifAbility
Our story
DIfAbility is a family run business. We realised some decades ago that our children were different. It was back in 1983, when Greg’s oldest son was born, quickly followed by a daughter then another son. Each of the children suffered debilitating learning issues and the family found themselves at wit’s end. Through sheer persistence, Greg and his wife accessed allied health professionals that set their family on a trajectory that culminated in the formation of this company.
The founders of DIfAbility maintain that, just like Greg’s own children, every child has a unique set of abilities, different for every child. Children don’t have disabilities, they have DifAbilities.
With a lengthy wait for many professionals, we are offering you researched strategies and interventions that should serve to empower you to make a difference, starting right now. Our resources should make your family’s journey that much easier.
Kieran Thorpe BHealthSc, GDipPsych, MSc (Psych), MAPS
Kieran is the Founder and Director of DifAbility. His area of practice and research expertise is in the filled of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, Asperger's and ADHD. He has also been working with children, adolescents and adults with autism and related conditions since 2008.
Kieran also conducts research at the Deakin Child Study Centre and at the Australian Centre for Quality of Life, at Deakin University. His research is world first, examining the happiness of Australians through the lens of autism.
Kieran also presents at national and international conferences, including the Asia Pacific Autism Conference and the Australian Society for Autism Research.
Greg Thorpe
Greg is a Co- Founder and Director of DifAbility. Greg grew up with a significant learning issue himself, yet was able to forge ahead to make a successful professional career. He and his wife were subsequently told that their children would need significant interventions if they were to have a chance at success. They gave this their all, accessing all services at their disposal. To this date, all three children have postgraduate degrees and are thriving, thanks to the parents’ perseverance and determination. You don’t ever give up on your children…