There has been a major move towards revolutionising the toy industry as we know it in recent times, with Lego leading the way with its inclusive toy range.
Joining in the movement with its range of toys representing children with disabilities is the #ToyLikeMe group, which is making headlines for all of the right reasons this week.
After the success of its crowd-funding campaign to get a website up and running, #ToyLikeMe has unveiled a beautiful new toy to represent the hearing impaired – a Tinkerbelle Fairy with hot pink cochlear implants.
Here is Tinkerbelle, up bright and early to help package up 12 of her friends who are going to be fluttering off as...
Posted by Toy Like Me on Tuesday, March 22, 2016
The group has high hopes of producing enough of these toys to supply children all over the world, but for now, the batch seen in their social media posts were being sent out as special ‘thank you’ gifts to those who supported the crowd-funding campaign.
As you can imagine, the toys are a total hit with the online community, and pretty Tinkerbelle has become a hot topic of conversation on social media.
“Amazing! I can already see myself 15 years ago being the happiest girl alive playing with this doll. I think I would have taken it everywhere, eh mum?” wrote one fan on Facebook.
Up close with Tinkerbelle and her hot pink cochlear implant complete with a tiny weeny star switch on the processor. #toocute #deafkidscan
Posted by Toy Like Me on Monday, March 21, 2016
Explaining the inspiration behind the #ToyLikeMe line, founder Rebecca Atkinson previously wrote: “The toys that entertain and educate our children barely feature children with any kind of impairment or difference. Their lives are not reflected. How do you grow a positive self-esteem when the cultural mainstream around you appears to place no value on your existence?”
“No one quite knows how affirming it is to see yourself reflected by the cultural mainstream until you or your child is that one standing on the side-line,” she added.
We think you will agree that this range is ground-breaking and long overdue. We wish the group all the best going forward – let’s hope we see a Tinkerbelle in every toy shop soon!
