Daily Mail today What do we think of this ?

[lottiejenkins]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1032600/Do-disability-dolls-help-children-handicaps-parents-right -think-theyre-sick-joke.html
I dont know what to think really..........

I don't see how they would be useful.

If you wanted to explain ds to small children I think books or videos would be more helpful than some scary looking doll! Small children often don't even notice physical characteristics. Not sure why there would be a need to teach them about it, surely they would gain more learning about behavioural/developmental aspects of DS which could be better taught by using videos or books.

I think I'd find it quite offensive, if a doll was made to characterise my child's condition like that.

I don't have any particular issue with doll's 'accessories' - ie wheelchair, walking frame etc - would rather they were spangly purple or pink, or had 'go-faster' stripes, as no kid wants a daggy aluminium thing anyway. Do agree with the parent later who pointed out that far from 'normalising' disability it was in fact doing the opposite - particular with the old-fashioned clothing and hair etc... I can see in some play therapy situations some of the toys might be useful for targeted input of whatever kind, but if you want disabled kids to feel better about themselves, don't 'normalise' them as a stuffed doll that can't do anything. I love the idea of a barbie wheelchair and an action man that can take his leg off at night lol.
it does make me laugh a little though - how many nt kids look like baby flipping annabelle anyway?! another way of extorting cash out of the sn market i fear. your child is different, so it's not allowed to play with 'normal' dolls.