American Girl Petitioned To Make Doll With Disability

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 SPORK! 0 Comments

For as long as she can remember, 10-year-old Melissa Shang has battled Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of muscular dystrophy. The incurable genetic disease damages nerves — causing debilitating muscle weakness and numbness — and requires Melissa to use a wheelchair or walker to get around.

When she was 7, Melissa fell in love with American Girl dolls, the pricey must-have toy of young girls from coast to coast and beyond. She cajoles her college-student sister to play dolls with her on trips home. The dolls and their accessories top every birthday and Christmas wish list.

But most of all, Melissa loves the dolls’ tales of overcoming obstacles. In books and movies, modern American Girls face reading difficulties, bullying and other challenges, while historical dolls tangle with troubles arising from slavery to war to the Great Depression.

Read the full article at Disability Scoop 

(http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/01/06/american-girl-doll-disability/18990/)