Special Dolls for Special Kids

By Sarah Watts
Peter Ardito
Nearly 3 million school-age kids in the U.S. have a disability and might appreciate playing with a doll that has one too. These toys make that possible—some even at no cost to you.xcvbxcvbv
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Prosthetic Limbs

Peter Ardito

A Step Ahead Prosthetics and Orthotics can modify American Girl dolls with hand-painted prosthetics free of charge for kids with limb loss. Each doll also has residual limbs, so when a child removes the prosthetic she will see an arm or leg that looks like hers.

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Guide Dogs

Peter Ardito

This stuffed German shepherd pup from Lakeshore Learning comes equipped with a harness and a cane. The company also sells crutches, helmets, walkers, wheelchairs, and hearing aids for dolls. $23.

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Stuffed Animals With Medical Tubes

Peter Ardito

Tubie Friends adapts plush toys to match a child’s specific needs for free. The monkey shown here has gastrostomy and tracheostomy tubes; other requests include chest ports and central catheters.

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Dolls With Medical Devices

Peter Ardito

Karen Challender of Karen’s Kids/Special Angel Dolls creates her dolls from fabric craft foam and other materials. Challender can make her dolls custom with cochlear implants, colostomy bags, shunts, and more. (The doll shown here has a nasal cannula.) $82 for a 16” doll or $90 for a 20” doll.

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Hospital Beds

Peter Ardito

Inspired by the frequent hospital stays of her 8-year-old daughter, Ava, Jenni Myers makes and sells mobile, adjustable hospital beds for stuffed animals and 18-inch dolls through her Etsy store, DrAvaMedical. Myers also makes and sells other medical equipment on request, including ventilators and feeding pumps. $120.

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