Woman Creates 'A Doll Like Me' So Kids With Disabilities Can See Themselves

As she said in her GoFundMe campaign, this would involve some play therapy with dolls, but she would eventually notice that there were some big differences between these dolls and the kids in the cancer unit.

Namely, that the dolls had thick hair and seemed to be in perfect health.

And so, she started altering some Raggedy Ann to look a little more non-traditional. This idea became a big hit with parents who heard about it, so they started requesting dolls that factored in the differences that made their children special.

In that time, she's made about 300 dolls and the wait list for more never seems empty.

Each doll costs about $100 to make, but seeing each child's excited face when they finally get a doll that looks like them is priceless.

This pledge does a lot to explain why there is now a Doll like Me GoFundMe campaign.

As you might expect, donations through this campaign are intended to pay for the material and shipping costs of the dolls, but they also turn A Doll Like Me into an official non-profit organization.

And people have definitely responded to her mission, as enough donations have rolled in to expand her initial $25,000 goal into a $225,000 goal.

At the time of this writing, she's raised over $218,000.

As she said, "If we’re going to look at mental health as a necessary part of medical care, this is key. If you want validation and play therapy, you need these dolls."

According to Amy's Facebook profile, the project ended up teaching her how to express different features in doll form.

She made dolls with different limbs at first, but then figured out how to represent hand differences, albinism, birthmarks and burn scars.

Because no matter how much work goes into it, it's worth seeing a child look at her creations and say "she's just like me," which is actually how this little girl reacted to her new doll.

As Amy said in a post, there's a story behind each one of these dolls, but she usually figures that the pictures can tell them all on their own.

For instance, this boy's dad is a cop, so Amy asked two police officers to let her photograph his doll in their squad car.

Not only were they fine with it, but they also sent the boy some Green Bay Packer trading cards and a little, toy police dog.

For example, the mother of these two girls said, "These dolls are our 3rd and 4th children. There have been times when I have pushed the dolls 'Little Callie and Little Phoebe' in my pram as that’s what the girls have wanted whilst they walk."

With the way she matched the outfit, the body shape, and the fact that the doll's little marks are placed in the same pattern as its owner's, it's clear that Amy takes the name "A Doll Like Me" seriously.

As she said in a post announcing this, "It is an honor to be recognized for what is my labor of love AND it is awesome that other people believe in the power of representation."

"Representation matters regardless of age, gender, and location. A kind angel made this delivery possible," wrote Amy.

Also note how closely she matched the child's hair color with this doll. Pretty cool, huh?

"Isn't this just the cutest? Big Anna and Little Anna from Frozen."

The caption says that they're "just hanging out," which shows how comfortable the child already is with this creation.

As she said, "On the one side, dolls are validating for the little people they reflect. And on the other side, dolls are a tangible way to share kindness and demonstrate acceptance. These children are perfect just the way they are!"

Amy Jandrisevits is doing amazing work and is most definitely a hero for these children.

Check out her Facebook page here!

h/t: GoFundMe