02/09/2015
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!
Kids love to see themselves in the toys they play with but for children with disabilities, illnesses, and chronic conditions, it’s rare to find a toy that represents their lives. That’s why Maria Kentley of Melbourne, Australia created Hope Toys, a toy line dedicated to customizing upcycled dolls into inclusive toys. According to the artist and mom of four, “To me, the meaning of 'real life' and 'normal' is everyday people. I don't like the idea of my children growing up with the idea that they are never going to be good enough in this world because they are different.”
Kentley was inspired by her two youngest sons, 3 ½ year old Christian and 22 month old Ethan who have been diagnosed with autism. The first doll she made was a Bratz Boyz doll, designed to look like a teenage version of Christian and wearing a shirt that says “I’m autistic & awesome." “I want him and Ethan to grow up loving themselves for who they are and learn to embrace their differences,” she said. She realized in the process that every child deserved to know that they were special, and the idea for Hope Toys was born. She customizes every doll by hand, in her spare time, and prioritizes children who are severely ill or have potentially terminal diagnoses, but she hopes to expand Hope Toys so that every child who wants one can have an affordable, customized doll.
Among the customized dolls Kentley has made are figures representing many different conditions, including autism, cancer, and genetic disorders, as well as dolls with missing limbs, vision impairment, and with mobility assists like walkers and wheelchairs. As she works on projects, she also shares links to pages or crowdfunding sites for the families, so that people who enjoy her work can also show their support to the kids she’s helping. The most rewarding thing, she says, is seeing the difference it makes when a child sees a toy in her honor: “It may seem like an expensive and time-consuming job, but it has definitely been worth it for me,” she says. And she hopes that these dolls will remind their owners -- and everyone around them -- that “[i]t's OK to be different, even if society doesn't always see it that way.”
You can read more about Hope Toys on Yahoo Parenting at http://yhoo.it/1VLeoZX -- or check out their website at http://www.hopetoys.org/
For hundreds of empowering and diverse dolls, visit A Mighty Girl's "Doll & Action Figure" section at http://www.amightygirl.com/toys/imaginative-play/dolls-action-figures
To learn about our favorite dolls and action figures, check out our blog post "A New Best Friend: Mighty Girl Dolls and Action Figures" at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=8099
And, to introduce your children to stories starring Mighty Girls with a range of disabilities, visit our "People with Disabilities" section at http://www.amightygirl.com/books/fiction/multicultural-fiction?cat=52
