When I was a child, I hated being given dolls for my birthday or Christmas. Most of them were glamorous, blonde and pretty and that certainly wasn't me! Like many other young girls, I would enthusiastically mutilate my Barbie dolls. Fifty-seven years after Barbie was born, Mattel, the company that created her, has finally cottoned on to the fact that many young girls share my sentiments. It has launched a new range of Barbies that come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of skin tones, hair styles and eye make up. Mattel says that it wants to offer girls dolls which are "better reflective of the world we see today". Twitter users are now calling for a Ken doll who embraces a more realistic version of manhood, a "dad bod Ken". Disabled children want to see toys like them Unfortunately, a young Rosemary today would feel no less inclined to rip her Barbie's head off than she did several decades ago. Because Mattel still hasn't released a Barbie with any kind of physical impairment.
Just taking the UK as an example, 1 in 14 children is disabled. Yet they rarely see their lives reflected in toys, and characters in books and films. Many parents tell Scope that it is important for their children to have toys which they can identify with, because it builds their confidence, self-esteem and the feeling of being included in society. It also helps young people to explain their differences to their peers. As a young disabled girl, being able to play with a doll that was more like me, would have helped me to accept my own wheelchair better and eased communicating about it with my friends. Having delivered numerous workshops on disability equality over the years to children and young people, I find that children are so very accepting of difference. Once they understand why a person is a different colour to them, speaks a different language or uses a wheelchair to help them get around, then they just get on with that person as they would anyone else. Toys are an ideal way to get these conversations started.
We need companies to follow Lego's lead Some toy manufacturers are listening. I'm thrilled that Lego confirmed last week that it will be releasing its first mini-figure in a wheelchair later this year. This follows a great campaign by Rebecca Atkinson, who launched the #ToyLikeMe group, which has been calling on toy manufacturers to positively represent disability in their products and help generations of kids grow up with a better attitude to human difference. So everything is awesome in Lego Land But too many toy manufacturers are still missing a trick by not making toys with impairments widely available. After all the spending power of disabled consumers is worth over £200bn. I'm really looking forward to the day when Mattel produces a wheelchair-using Barbie or a Barbie doll that uses a guide dog to help them get around. So come on Mattel, what about Barbie with a really cool wheelchair? Just don't name her 'Wheelchair Barbie'. Barbie Barbie Dolls Disability Toy Like Me Disabled
WATCH ABOVE: Why Barbie dolls are evolving and will look different in the future LEGO is joining other toymakers in creating more inclusive products, unveiling a new mini-figure of a boy using a wheelchair.The figure is part of a set called “Fun at the Park” and features a boy in a grey hoodie and hat sitting in a wheelchair, along with the boy’s assistance dog.The iconic toymaker revealed the latest design at toy fairs in London and Nuremberg last week, and photos were taken by the German toy fan group Promobricks. READ MORE: London mom creates dolls to reflect children with disabilitiesLEGO, based in Billund, Denmark, is joining other toymakers in creating more diverse products. Last week Mattel announced it will start selling dolls with differing shapes and sizes: tall, curvy and petite. that called for more inclusiveness in the depiction of disabled kids.“Please make this the last Christmas disabled kids are culturally excluded from your much-loved products,” the petition said.
Request for event related accommodations available to persons with disabilities should be made directly to the Event Promoter of the show you will be attending. Wheelchairs can be rented on a first come, first served basis for a minimal daily charge inside the Gold, Blue, and Green Gates. Rental requires a valid Washington State driver’s license, military ID card, credit card or cash deposit. Rentals are first come, first served and may not be reserved in advance. Guests may also bring their own wheelchair. Accessible drop-off available only at the Green Gate. Electric Carts - $55 There are cash machines located on the Fairgrounds provided by Columbia Bank that are mobility aid-accessible. They are outside the Gold Gate, inside the Gold Gate, inside the Blue Gate and the Northeast outside corner of the Sleep Train ShowPlex. They may be located in other convenient locations. Guests using wheelchairs can find accessible drinking fountains in various locations through the Washington State Fair Events Center.
Guests with a state disability placard or license plate may park in the designated area in selected lots on a first come, first serve basis. Five sections are available at the following parking lots: Gold Parking Lot – 9th Ave SW and Meridian St S Blue Parking Lot – Meridian St S and 10th Ave SE Red Parking Lot – 5th St SW and 9th Ave SW Green Parking Lot – Off 5th/9th St SW Bypass near Green Gate Purple Parking Lot – Off 5th/9th St SW Bypass near Purple Gate Wheelchair accessible stalls, built to accommodate mobility aids, are located near gate entrances and throughout the facility. In addition, Sleep Train ShowPlex has unisex restrooms large enough to accommodate a guest in a wheelchair accompanied by an attendant. Amplified Telephone Handset and TDD are located near the Blue Gate. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). Service Animals are welcome throughout the facility. Pets are not permitted. Sign language interpreters are available from 2 pm -8 pm daily during the Washington State Fair to assist hearing impaired guests and employees.