A variety of dolls with disabilities are creating quite a stir. Situated in wheelchairs or with leg braces, some with the almond eyes and protruding tongues of Down’s syndrome, these dolls have found a receptive market in progressive countries such as Britain. Here in the U.S. however, they are met with disgust and ridicule.
Those who are against the dolls feel that they only emphasize the differences between the disabled and able-bodied children, while those in favor welcome them as a realistic option to the “Barbie doll” perfection touted for so long.
The possibility of these dolls being ridiculed or used as objects of derision and fun sticks in the minds of some. How do you balance the potential benefits of a doll that may create a sense of belonging in some disabled children with the chance of these dolls spotlighting the very disability that they are working to develop acceptance for?
What do you think? Are they a benefit for children with disabilities or for those who have parents and family members with disabilities, or do they deride and poke fun?