Eliza Factor is Cultivating Community for Families with Disabilities

The Uplifters

In this week's episode, you’ll meet Eliza Factor, an artist and author whose life took an unexpected turn when her first child, Felix, was born with significant disabilities. What began as a challenging and often isolating experience blossomed into a beautiful journey of discovery, innovation, and community-building.Eliza's story begins in 2003 when she contracted chicken pox during pregnancy. While she recovered, the illness profoundly affected her unborn son. Felix entered the world unable to move independently or communicate through traditional language. Rather than seeing limitations, Eliza saw an opportunity to reimagine how we connect, communicate, and create inclusive spaces.

Driven by a desire to build community for families like hers, Eliza founded Extreme Kids and Crew, a program for children with disabilities that welcomed entire families. This initiative grew from her realization that parents of children with disabilities often neglect their own needs while focusing intensely on their children's care.

As Felix approached adulthood, Eliza confronted a new challenge: the lack of meaningful work opportunities for adults with disabilities. Her solution? Lonely Worm Farm, an innovative agricultural project designed with inclusion at its core. Picture wheelchair-accessible paths lined with berry bushes and waist-high planters, allowing individuals of all abilities to participate in the joys of farming and harvesting.

Through her journey, Eliza discovered a new language of connection beyond words, learning to communicate with Felix through body language, energy, and presence. This profound shift in perspective not only deepened her bond with her son but also influenced her art, allowing her to capture the essence of human experience in richer, more nuanced ways.

5 Uplifting Lessons from Eliza's Story:

1. Embrace the unexpected: Life's challenges can lead to beautiful innovations and personal growth.

2. Create what's missing: If you can't find the community or resources you need, take the initiative to build them yourself.

3. Redefine communication: There are many ways to connect beyond words; presence and energy speak volumes.

4. Trust your instincts: Sometimes the best ideas come from following your intuition and personal experiences.

5. Share your vision: Don't be afraid to involve others in your dreams; collaboration can turn small ideas into powerful movements.

Eliza's story reminds us that uplifting happens not just from overcoming obstacles, but from rebuilding our spaces to be more inclusive and connective. What do you wish existed in the world? Maybe it’s just waiting for you to create it.