13-Year-Old Utah Boy Zac Waters Spent 300+ Hours at a Summer Camp & $150 Building a Custom Growing Wheelchair for a 21-Month-Old Girl Whose Family Couldn't Afford One — Designed to Fit Her Until Age 8
Zac Waters, a 13-year-old self-taught 3D printing enthusiast from Utah who learned the trade through YouTube, collaborated with the disability-focused nonprofit MakeGood to engineer an affordable, custom mobility solution for a 21-month-old girl whose family was unable to afford a commercial wheelchair. Over the course of 300 hours during his summer vacation and summer camp, Waters designed, manufactured, and assembled a fully functional, personalized wheelchair aimed at proving that essential assistive technology can be produced at a fraction of standard commercial costs—bringing the total production expense down to just $150.
The engineering of the chair accounts for both immediate medical needs and long-term usability, featuring an adjustable frame with customizable headrests and footrests capable of accommodating the child's growth up to age eight. To optimize comfort and utility, the design incorporates soft, flexible straps to prevent skin irritation, a removable tray table with an integrated cupholder, and a reinforced rear compartment specifically built to secure heavy medical equipment. Customized with pink accents to match the child's favorite color, the project highlights how low-cost additive manufacturing can bridge accessibility gaps for pediatric patients while exemplifying the practical application of youth-driven technical skills in humanitarian efforts.