In 2017, my father, Dr. Ayeez Lalji, was diagnosed with ALS, and my world changed forever. With each passing day, I watched as the disease slowly stripped away pieces of him—first his ability to move, then to speak, and finally to breathe. Beyond the physical toll, ALS stole something even more profound: his sense of self. His hobbies, his mannerisms, his ability to engage with the world—everything that made him unique and gave him purpose—was slipping away. As his daughter and primary caregiver, I felt powerless, witnessing him trapped in a body that no longer obeyed him.

Though he was still with us, it felt as if we were losing him in slow motion.

This is the heartbreaking reality for so many individuals living with ALS and other debilitating conditions. In a desperate attempt to bring my father moments of joy and connection, we introduced him to Virtual Reality (VR). The potential was immense—VR could let him travel the world, re-engage with hobbies and interests, and interact with loved ones in ways his body no longer allowed. But despite its promise, existing VR systems weren’t designed for people like him.

The technology was there, but accessibility was not.

My father passed away in September 2024. But his journey—his resilience, his fight to stay connected to the world—became the foundation of something bigger.

That realization sparked a mission—one that became Valor. I set out to create a VR application with experiences tailored to those with severe physical disabilities, giving them the ability to reclaim lost freedoms, reconnect with the world, and rediscover their sense of self. Valor was born from a deeply personal need, but it exists to serve a global community—to empower those who feel trapped by their condition and remind them that
their identity is much more than their physical limitations.