Every child has a story worth telling.
For families raising children with disabilities, medical complexities, or rare conditions, daily life can hold moments of incredible strength, joy, resilience, humor, and love... moments that often go unseen by the outside world. While challenges are real, so are the beautiful, life-changing experiences these children bring into their families and communities.
That’s why we are excited to share an incredible opportunity for families: The Wonders of Wally, a free photography and storytelling project created to celebrate children with disabilities and medical complexities and the unique impact they have on the world around them.
What Is The Wonders of Wally?
Photographer Lizzy, who has spent more than 16 years professionally capturing stories through her camera, first launched a nationwide project in 2012 called I Am Beautiful Just The Way I Am. Through this work, she traveled across the country documenting individuals with disabilities and sharing their stories, voices, and lived experiences.
Her belief was simple but powerful: every person has something to teach the world.
Then her son, Wally, changed everything.
As a disabled child, Wally showed Lizzy new ways of seeing life: new wonders, deeper meaning, and moments that transformed her perspective forever. After his passing, Lizzy began searching for ways to honor his life and legacy.
From that love came The Wonders of Wally, a rebirth of her original project, now focused on celebrating children with disabilities and medical complexities, the families who love them, and the communities surrounding them.
Because there are wonders of Wally.
But there are also wonders of Edison, Etta, Paxton, Kenadee, Olivia, Aaron, Gabe, Lily... and the wonder of your child too.
What Families Can Expect
This project goes beyond traditional photography.
The Wonders of Wally is about capturing your child’s story, their personality, their strengths, and the unique way they impact the people around them. It is about helping families feel seen and creating awareness around disability, rare diseases, medical complexity, advocacy, fundraising, and clinical research.
Families selected for the project may have the opportunity to participate in:
- Professional photography sessions
- Storytelling centered on their child and family journey
- Increased awareness for disabilities, rare diseases, and medical conditions
- A chance to celebrate and preserve meaningful moments
And perhaps the most incredible part?
These services are completely free for families, always.
Why Representation Matters
As pediatric therapists and providers, we know that families of children with disabilities often spend so much time navigating appointments, therapies, medical systems, and advocacy that there is little time to pause and simply celebrate who their child is.
Projects like The Wonders of Wally help shift the focus.
Instead of limitations, they highlight possibility.
Instead of diagnoses, they highlight identity.
Instead of what a child cannot do, they celebrate the wonder they already bring to the world.
For siblings, parents, grandparents, therapists, educators, and communities, these stories can also help build understanding, empathy, and connection.
Who Can Apply?
The project welcomes families of children with:
- Disabilities
- Medical complexities
- Rare diseases
- Additional support needs
Importantly, parents of children who have passed away are also welcome to apply, honoring the lasting impact and love these children continue to bring to their families.
Lizzy plans to travel across the country, and eventually the world, to document these stories and shine a light on the beauty, strength, and humanity within the disability and medical complexity community.
Interested in Applying?
Families interested in participating can apply here:
Apply for The Wonders of Wally Project
If you know a family who may benefit from this opportunity, consider sharing it with them. Every child deserves to have their story seen, celebrated, and remembered.
Because every child has wonder.
And every family deserves to have that wonder seen.
Have questions about whether this opportunity could be a good fit for your family? Reach out to our team, we are always happy to help connect families with meaningful resources and opportunities in our community.