A Toy Like Me

British toy manufacturer Makies has delighted campaigners by creating a range of dolls with disabilities.  Facebook group Toy Like Me has been running a campaign for companies to produce diverse toys that children with disabilities can relate to.

London based Makies use an innovative 3D printer process to create their dolls and have released new models with walking sticks, hearing aid and birthmarks in response to the campaign.

Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Wiggins, said: “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.

We’re hoping to make some kids – and their parents – really happy with these inclusive accessories!

“We’re hoping to make some kids – and their parents – really happy with these inclusive accessories!”

Toybox Diversity

The Toy Like Me campaign was started by a group of parents of children with disabilities to try and encourage brands to bring ‘diversity to the toy box’.  With a large social media presence, they encourage their followers to contact well known toy manufacturers requesting a more diverse range of toys that better reflect the individuality of the children that play with them.  The aim of the campaign is for children with disabilities to be able to find toys that they can relate to and enjoy, without feeling excluded.

The campaign hopes to see many more companies follow suit after the quick response from Makies.

Use hashtag #ToyLikeMe to join the campaign online, or visit them on Facebook at Toy Like Me.  You can learn more about Makies dolls here.