Dolls with a difference

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 11

Dolls with a difference

By

JULIA SPAIN

Soft, smiling, huggables — and handicapped. Disabled dolls for children with or without disability are taking off fast. Their American designer, Margery Rich of Springfield, Missouri, says their main purpose is to create a special friend for a handicapped child. She believes they are also a very useful emotional aid in a child’s doll collection where the rest of the dolls are without disability. The dolls are not meant to be pitied and singled out for special consideration, but they

are meant to be endearing because of their imperfections. Children are naturally curious — they wouldn’t be normal if they weren’t — and the dolls are meant to open up a natural sense of communication for children, who are not disabled, curious about their little friends who are “different.” Margery Rich says she hopes to see them as well accepted. “If children accept dolls with disabilities, then they’re going to have a better acceptance level and understanding of people with disabilities too, and that will be >

something very worth while.” Flaxen-haired Lucille, 60cm tall, has her left leg in splints; immaculately dressed, ravenhaired Barbara has her tiny legs embraced by a wheelchair. She is watched over by Henry who only has one leg, and to complete the doll family are the expressive thalidomide twins, Trudy and Teresa. Margery believes today’s well made, perfect dolls don’t fulfil the entire range of fantasies children want to play out. “They’re just too perfect for normal life as we know it,” she says. — Copyright Duo