One of the newest toys to be released by Lottie, Mia the Wildlife Photographer doll, sports a camera, a red jacket, a matching pair of boots—and a cochlear implant.
The Mia doll was created in consultation with Toy Like Me, a non-profit organization that campaigns for diversity and better representation of disabilities. Toy Like Me was founded by former BBC journalist and children’s writer Rebecca Atkinson, who also wears a hearing aid. As she says: "When I was growing up in the 80s. I never saw any deaf characters in toys, books or on TV. When I became a mum myself, I decided it was time things changed."
Mis the Wildlife Photographer is a doll who has a passion for nature, wildlife and caring for the earth.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Inclusive Toys
- Creating toys that represent diversity and disabilities, such as dolls with cochlear implants.
- Representation of Disabilities
- Increasing the visibility of disabilities in mainstream toys, books, and media.
- Collaboration with Non-profit Organizations
- Partnering with organizations like Toy Like Me to ensure accurate representation of disabilities in toys.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Toy Manufacturing
- Opportunity to expand product lines to include more inclusive and diverse toys.
- Publishing
- Opportunity to create children's books and media that feature characters with disabilities.
- Non-profit Organizations
- Opportunity to collaborate with toy manufacturers and advocate for greater representation of disabilities.
