COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Family Connection of South Carolina opened their third annual LOOK! Photography exhibit at EdVenture Children's Museum in Columbia.
Families of children and young adults with special needs attended the opening Friday night.
"It's supposed to give us an awareness about the beauty and the strength of children and youth throughout South Carolina who have a disability or a special health care need," says Amy Holbert, CEO of Family Connections of South Carolina.
Parents say they were pleased with the photos. More than 50 children were photographed by 48 professional photographers who volunteered for the exhibit.
"It just really captured who she is, and that's being a bossy little girl who likes to hold class with her stuffed animals," says Jenny Samples, mother of Lizzy. "Since day one, we've always wanted to share Lizzy and her story with everybody so that they know that being different and having a disability or a diagnosis like down syndrome isn't scary. She's just like any other three-year-old."
Samples hopes that the photos will help break the stigma surrounding children with special needs.
"Being different is beautiful."
The exhibit will remain at EdVenture Children's Museum throughout the summer.