Children with a Disability Can Now Have a Lookalike Doll

In this age of Barbie dolls, many little girls (and boys) come to feel that they have to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society. So what happens when a child has a disability? What if they have birthmarks, skin conditions, amputations or any other condition which results in their looking different from other kids their age?

Wouldn't it be great if these kids (and all kids in general) had dolls which looked more like them and less like that ideal that we teach kids to be in our society? Well, a dollmaker in Wisconsin has come up with the perfect solution: a doll that looks like its owner no matter what disability the owner might have.

The First Doll for a Child with a Disability

The entire process started when Amy Jandrisevits was asked by a friend of hers to make a doll for her child who had lost a leg due to an amputation. So she made an amputee doll which looked just like its owner.

Not only was the new owner of the doll happy to see a doll which looked just like her, but the doll also became a huge hit on Facebook. People who had children with disabilities started inundating Amy with orders. And now, the dolls have become so popular that she has a waiting list that's two years long.

How and Why to Make Dolls with Disabilities

Amy usually charges about $100 per doll, but she's willing to waive a part of the charges for parents who can't afford the doll. Plus, if the child has a terminal ailment, s/he is moved to the top of the list. Amy runs her business out of her living room; she is also the mother of three children.

She says, "Scars, birthmarks, limb differences, skin coloring, medical equipment…those are all things you rarely see in dolls, but for kids who have those, it's everything." So far, she has made 400 dolls. And that means 400 very happy kids.

To learn more about this and related topics, visit the Behavioral Health and Healthcare sections of our blog.

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