Betty - Downs Syndrome Doll - Reactions from Doll Collectors on Multiply

I think I've already posted about this doll, but if I did I certainly didn't post the reactions it got from My Dolls More Doll Buddies, so here it is from there.

Btw, I may have several double posts on here, if I do I'm sorry but it's due to my importing every thing from Multiply onto my Blog as the Social Networking part of Multiply was being closed, I wanted to be able to save all my posts / uploads and put them somewhere safe, hence the merge and possibility of double posting ho hum, anyhoo, if you haven't seen this little cutie before, or you have but you'd like to read more reactions to the doll, read on...

carnice05 wrote on May 18, '09
she is sweet, a picture of innocence, you get all sorts of dolls now, colour, race gender, I would welcome her into society, great for young people to recognise her type of disability as an individual, and not all classed the same. when and where I was growing up, kids in wheelchairs, learning disabilities  down syndrome, regardless of their disability were classed as ' spastic' ps.. does bratz dolls teach little girls to become little bratz,
dollectabledonna wrote on May 18, '09
Good concept, But i think they could have made her look a bit better without her tongue hanging out, I was brought up with disability in my family and think yes its great to educate but the best way to do that is not to point out the differences but to teach that everyone is individual , dolls are great but only if they reflect the whole ,
lilacmermaid wrote on May 18, '09
I have a real love for downs syndrome children and adults, i think it's good to have all kinds of dolls but personally i think they could have done a better job, the eyes and mouth are wrong for me. When i remember the little girl that i fell in love with one summer on holiday when she was camped near to us was her lovely eyes, without the bags shown here and here gorgeous smile without the tongue showing. They have however done a good job on the feet which are cute just like any babies feet are, my tenpenneth, lol, Janet.x
weebairns wrote on May 18, '09
Being the mother of a child with Asperges Syndrome, my youngest son James has it, (its a mild form of autism), I totally agree that anyone with a disability should be helped to see although they may be a little different, they have the same rights as everyone else, so think these dolls could help, but I agree that the face could have been modelled better. Great idea though
juliejunejulie wrote on May 18, '09, edited on May 18, '09
She is hideous. The idea is good but the doll is a beast, the maker could have done a bit more research as this is a Downs clown. My friends Girl Fay Looked nothing like this, sadly she passed away at 18mths as she had a heart problem.
kitschartherb wrote on May 18, '09
I think she's pretty cute too...I do have a problem with the tongue, and you'd think a doctor who treats such children would have designed the face a little better...I find people with down's syndrome are more often than not always happy and smiling and I think that should have been portrayed in the doll....the tongue and the small ears is what's upsetting parents mostly...but I think maybe a few of these dolls in playgroups etc would go a long way to educating young "able bodied" children that we are not all born the same and there is a place for everyone in society regardless of physical differences...

You're right John, they used to say that when I was young too and it's never sat too well with me I could never understand why when they were just people who cant do some things the same as me...my cousin's boy had down's (before my time) but I'm told by everyone who knew him that he was such a happy and contented little boy and a joy to be around...I think that aspect more than any other is what should have been portrayed in these dolls

Betty - Down Syndrome Doll

Well here's a doll that's causing one hell of a lot of controversy within the Downs Community....Many Parents are up in arms about this doll, which was apparently designed by a Pediatrician and distributed by Helga's European Specialty Toys is for children facing medical treatments and Down Syndrome.

This is a Down’s syndrome doll which has been designed with the characteristics of children born with the condition.

It’s one of an increasingly popular — but hugely controversial — range of dolls with different disabilities produced to give youngsters with health problems a toy with which they can identify.

The manufacturers claim such dolls, which are finding a growing market in Britain, help ‘normalise’ conditions like Down’s syndrome so young sufferers don’t feel so different from their friends. They even say such dolls may help make disabled people more accepted by society.

Children undergoing cancer treatment can get ‘chemo’ dolls which are bald and come complete with headscarves.
Others are available with hearing aids, glasses, guide dogs, wheelchairs, crutches and leg braces.

Many parents of disabled children have welcomed the dolls as a realistic alternative to the physical perfection of the Baby Annabells already on the market.

Others, however, dismiss them as a sick joke. In fact, their detractors believe they only emphasise a disabled child’s differences to their able-bodied friends.

The Jury's still out..


purple_ebren says: Well, I'd be in all for giving such dolls to 'able' children. I think they are a brilliant idea personally . . .
Posted 3 weeks ago.


Demonic Angel 1975 says: Yes I agree...for able bodied kids it would be a great idea but quite a few parents of downs children are upset because they say the face moulds on these dolls are sterotypical and they don't see their child as looking like this...they also say thier child doesn't see themselves this way so I don't know I'm kinda confused by it!

Aidmenot says: A late cousin of mine had Down's Syndrome, and (I did not like her saying this, I assure you!) she always said that I was her favourite cousin. Her middle name was Joy - and that's what she brought into the world to all who knew her.
Posted 3 weeks

Demonic Angel 1975 says:  Awww aidmenot that's so sweet...my cousin's little boy had down's too...I never got to met him tho' it was before my time... but I on my travels I have found people with down's syndrome to be so happy and much fun to be around ... it's a shame the same can't be said for most "able bodied" people! *sigh*
 Posted 3 weeks ago.


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