American Girl Doll Urged To Release Dolls In Wheelchairs By A 10-Year-Old; American Girl Doll Spokeswoman Responds To Petition

An American Girl doll petition is continuously gaining attention from online citizens. Such American Girl doll petition urges the company to release a doll that represents girls with disabilities. The petition is being led by a 10-year-old girl.

Melissa Shang, who hails from Paoli, Pennsylvania, has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of muscular dystrophy. Due to her condition, she is unable to live a normal active life. As a self-confessed fan of American Girl dolls, Shang and her sister YingYing are urging Mattel to come up with a doll that will broaden the perception of other girls when it comes to disabilities.

 "For once, I don't want to be invisible or a side character that the main American Girl has to help.  I want other girls to know what it's like to be me, through a disabled American Girl's story," Shang writes.

The petition comes with a YouTube video showing Shang holding an American Girl doll named Saige. The company describes Saige as a "spirited girl whose passions inspire action."

In the petition addressed to American Girl president Jean Mackenzie, Shang declares why girls like her are worthy of having their own dolls: "Disabled girls are American girls too. We face challenges and overcome them every day." In less than a week, the petition has gained more than 15,000 signatures.

According to IBTimes, brand spokeswoman Julie Parks commends Shang for her "amazing spirit and positive attitude." However, she has not yet confirmed whether next year's "Girl of the Year" will be a doll in a wheelchair.

"We receive hundreds of passionate requests to create a variety of dolls and books based on a wide range of circumstances and we are always considering new ways to enhance our product lines," she explains.

American Girl dolls are 18-inch dolls which were first released in 1986. As opposed to other dolls, the American Girl line is committed to representing diversity. The company claims to "help girls grow up in a wholesome way while encouraging them to enjoy girlhood through fun and enchanting play."

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