#ToyLikeMe Facebook campaign inspires toy company to launch dolls with disabilities

It's no longer about the big-chested, small-waisted and lean-legged Barbie. A British toy company Makies, has been inspired to design 3D dolls after a Facebook campaign #ToyLikeMe, called for a diversity in dolls.

The Facebook campaign initiated by parents of special needs children asked for a "better representation and diversity in the toy box" on their social media page.



Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with parents asking for toys with disabilities, some even went ahead and made them for their kids:

Soon enough, Makies responded and got working on these special dolls. They responded to their fans on their webpage saying, "We put a bunch of things on hold and jumped into designing toy hearing aids, toy walking aids, working out how to do facial birthmarks… plus Anthony and Zoe are working on a new 3D printed toy wheelchair, too!"



The customised British-based toy developer MakieLab created a selection of Makie doll-sized impairment aids and accessories, using 3D printing to deliver them within days of demand.



Twitter saw excited people praising the initiative:

“It’s fantastic that our supercharged design and manufacturing process means we can respond to a need that’s not met by traditional toy companies,” Makies CTO Matthew Wiggins wrote in the blog post. “We’re hoping to make some kids – and their parents! – really happy with these inclusive accessories.



The parents behind the campaign were thrilled at the launch. “You just made a lot of people very happy!” they wrote.



The dolls are currently priced at $108 and custom-designed for their owners, parents can request a doll with the same disability as their child.

But #ToysLikeMe is not stopping here, the parents of the campaign want to go one step ahead and bring the big toy companies on board.

"But it’s not over yet! Toy Like Me won't rest. If small companies like Makies can respond, what are the big girls and boys doing?" they wrote on their Facebook page.

"Come on LEGO, Playmobil, Mattell Barbie 770,000 UK children with disabilities (and millions more beyond) need positive toy box representation now!" said their post.

The campaign is garnering more and more followers on social media as people realise the importance of such dolls