Ken Fashionista Doll with Wheelchair and the rise of disability dolls

Monica Costa

4 years ago

In the last decade I have observed the rise of diverse toys reflecting the variety of humanity versus perfect humanity. The recent launch of Ken Fashionista Doll with Wheelchair by Mattel has prompted me to reflect about children’s imagination games using disability dolls.

It’s a great sign of changing times that the glamorous world of Barbie is now welcoming for children with disabilities, after the arrival of new disabled dolls. The new dolls in wheelchairs are joining the ‘Fashionistas’ collection including characters of different shapes, sizes, and races.

Barbie® and Ken® Fashionistas™ celebrate diversity with fashion dolls that encourage real-world storytelling and open-ended dreams. With a wide variety of skin tones, eye and hair colours and textures, body types and fashions, the dolls are designed to reflect the world kids see today.

The latest Ken® doll has a wheelchair – with a bright green accent for a pop of colour – that features large rolling wheels and a working brake that holds the chair in place for storytelling fun. The wheelchair comes with a ramp that works with the Barbie® Dreamhouse™ (sold separately) so Ken™ doll can easily get in and out of the house and the elevator. Children just need to push to get it rolling.

The new Ken doll also features 22 “joints” – in the neck, upper arms, elbows, wrists, torso, hips, upper legs, knees and ankles – to play out all kinds of motion in and out of the wheelchair.

Ken™ wears white athletics wear with a cool blue and yellow tie-dye top, black shorts, white sneakers and matching accessories – like silvery sunglasses, so on trend – that let kids explore style, tell a complete story and make a fashion statement.

This disability Ken doll makes a great gift for kids 3 years and older who like to play out stories from the ordinary with their Barbie® dolls. Available from Amazon.