Disabled children can face a lot of challenges - but one photographer from Washington wants to make sure they recognize that they all have a super-human ability to conquer any challenge set before them. For The Superhero Project, Renee Bergeron, 38, photographs children with special needs as superheroes, dressing them up with capes, goggles, and wands in order to make them feel like they can do anything. 'I think a lot of people look at others with special needs and think of them as "less" in some ways,' Mrs. Bergeron, who also has a parenting blog, recently told The Mighty. 'Let’s face it, though — these kids are all fighters. The obstacles they overcome daily just to cope in our world ought to make us all see them as superheroes.' Caped crusader: Avery, pictured, was photographed for Renee Bergeron's Superhero Project; Avery was born prematurely, has had multiple brain surgeries, and has a feeding tube in her stomach . Powerful shots: Mila, left, suffers from speech disorders, while Mordecai, right, was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and has several missing fingers and toes . Mrs. Bergeron's first little superhero subject was her own son, Apollo, now four. Apollo was diagnosed with a rare heart defect when he was 18 months old and, in addition to undergoing several medical procedures and surgeries, had to be fitted with a feeding tube at a young age. Despite his health problems and the tube protruding from his stomach, when Apollo was two, Mrs. Bergeron said, he would pose for pictures with 'such strength and confidence'. His mother knew that one day Apollo might feel self-conscious about the tube, so she wanted to document him looking strong and proud, in the hopes that the images might inspire him to feel that way again later on in life. Proud princess: Victoria, pictured, was born with Congenital Femoral Deficiency, which affects her legs, hips, and knees . Super cute: Mrs. Bergeron's son Apollo, left, was her first subject; Melanie, right, is autistic, epileptic, and has Sensory Processing Disorder . After speaking to other moms of children with special needs on Facebook, Mrs. Bergeron decided to take similarly empowering photographs of more disabled children. In 2013, she began working on the The Superhero Project, taking pictures of children with physical disabilities, autism, and sensory disorders free of charge. After Apollo, she photographed Avery, a little girl born prematurely who underwent multiple brain surgeries, Melanie, a four-year-old with autism and epilepsy, and Cody, a red-headed boy with Down syndrome. Tough cookie: Mrs. Bergeron says she 'seriously fell in love with' Cody, pictured, who has Down syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Speech Apraxia . Watch out, bad guys: Avi, pictured, faces 'a variety of sensory and social challenges', but is still 'vivacious and full of life' 'My hope is that we can spread awareness about special needs, while giving encouragement to families through the gift of professional photography,' she explained on her website. She continued: 'While their special needs are what brought them to the shoot, I wanted the images to capture their individual spirits.' Mrs. Bergeron and her husband, Chuck, also have 13other children, nine of whom are biological and five of whom are adopted. Apollo, born in June 2010, is their youngest child.
Renee Bergeron, 38, captures children with disabilities at their most confident for her Superhero Project . The Washington-based photographer's first subject was her son, Apollo, who has a feeding tube in his stomach . She takes the photos free of charge to encourage families and to spread awareness .