Mother Makes Inclusive Dolls After She Realized There Weren't Any With Hearing Aids For Her Deaf Daughter

It's only natural for children to be attracted to toys that remind them of themselves

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• November 21, 2020

When I was a child, like most little girls, I loved dolls. I especially loved dolls that had blonde hair and blue eyes because they were just like me.

It's only natural for children to be attracted to toys that remind them of themselves. However, sadly there aren't so many options available for children who look different to most due to disabilities or medical conditions.

Clare Tawell, a 39-year-old mother of two from the UK, decided to take matters into her own hands when she couldn't find a doll with hearing aids for her 4-year-old daughter, Matilda, who is deaf. Clare created a nonprofit organization called Bright Ears UK to start modifying baby dolls to match children with disabilities.

"I became really disheartened when I couldn't find a doll or any toy with hearing aids. It felt to me that society didn't deem her important, and therefore she shouldn't be 'acknowledged,'" Clare said.

The loving mother, who works as a radiation technologist, modifies the dolls in her spare time.

She says her goal is to promote inclusiveness and empower children by ensuring every child with a disability will have the option to play with toys that are just like them.

Clare has sold more than 2k dolls since starting her mission in 2017. She would love for children to be able to walk into any store and see dolls with hearing aids or cleft lips, right next to the other regular dolls.

Many of Clare's dolls are currently sold out, so you may need to be patient if you wish to buy one. She also takes custom orders whenever she is able.

Several schools and nurseries have also purchased Clare's dolls, using them when teaching young children about inclusiveness and not to judge another person by the way they look.

You can learn more about Clare's dolls by visiting her Etsy store.

Stephanie