Deaf News: Breakthrough for #toylikeme campaign as Lego release first disabled mini figure

There’s been another breakthrough for the #toylikeme campaign, which is led by deaf journalist Rebecca Atkinson, after a disabled minifigure was spotted at several toyfairs

Extract from the Guardian:

The first ever Lego figure in a wheelchair has been spotted at the Nuremberg and London toy fairs, featuring a beanie-hatted character alongside a helper dog.

The figure was captured in photos by the Promobricks blog, and shared on theBricksfans website. The figure features alongside an ice-cream vendor, cyclist, picnickers and more, in a new park scene from the company’s City range.

The sighting is significant, given Lego has recently been accused of a lack of diversity in its figures. The #ToyLikeMe campaign, launched last year, resulted in over 20,000 signatures to a Change.org petition, which lobbied Lego to include disabled figures in its sets.

Its co-founder Rebecca Atkinson wrote in the Guardian in December: “The brand continues to exclude 150 million disabled children worldwide by failing to positively represent them in its products … This is more than just about sales figures or disability access, it’s about changing cultural perceptions. It’s about brands such as Lego using their vast power of influence to positive effect.”