Find Dolls and Accessories for People With Disabilities in This Etsy Store
It is very important for our children to see themselves represented in the world around them, from those in their own community and the characters depicted in films to the very toys they play with. But for children who have hearing aids, cochlear implants, cleft lip, tracheostomy, feeding tubes, or surgical scars, it can be difficult to find such an image.
This is why one mom decided to open an Etsy store that sells inclusive dolls and accessories for young children who need to see themselves a little in the world. I first learned about a store called BrightEars from the Kids Activities blog ; Shop owner Claire explains how it got started :
I am a mother of two girls, my youngest (Matilda) is deaf and wears bilateral hearing aids. I started doing retailers for her as I found the standard ones were a little boring and didn’t quite reflect her personality! Then I made a doll for her … and so BrightEars was born!
BrightEars is based in the UK; Shipping to the US may take some time due to distance, pandemic, and the fact that every doll and accessories are customizable. But with nearly 2,000 sales and five stars, the reviews for the store are amazing. Here’s an example:
- What a wonderful gift for our granddaughter. Our children gave it to her on the day she received the hearing aid. This made the process much easier and our granddaughter found a new best friend! Thank you for creating such a wonderful moment for our family.
- The doll that changed the life of my daughter Heidi. She can’t be proud of her little doll that looks like her!
- A lovely doll bought for my niece who was PEG fed and who always tried to feed her cart the same way she did hers; now this little child will let her do it. She also gave the baby the glasses she wears. Highly recommend.
- My daughter loved the doll very much. I have been looking for such a doll for a long time. It’s not really her pipe, but very close. She said she would keep him forever. Best buy I’ve made.
You can see more updated shipping information and customizable options for BrightEars on its Facebook page , as well as many adorable photos of the kids with their new dolls.