Working at programs for college students with disabilities taught me two important things: One, you should never assume someone's disability is a good reason to pity them, and two, people with disabilities probably experience more discrimination than any other group. So I love this round-up of dolls with disabilities. Most of them come with accessories such as wheelchairs, arm braces, or darkened glasses, and some have things like prosthetic limbs or physical rehab equipment. A few are undergoing chemotherapy. They also come in a variety of ethnicities.
While these dolls are designed to be a companion to the child with a disability so that he or she has a toy that looks like him or her, I think they'd be great for all kids. If discrimination poses the biggest limitations for folks, then helping all kids become comfortable with disabilities at an early age could go a long way. I know my child was highly jealous of my co-worker's wheelchair. And my Deaf colleagues jokingly referred to a hearing friend who didn't know sign language as "signing impaired," so there you go.
