Young girl in wheelchair lights up on seeing a Barbie that looks like her: 'Representation matters'

For differently-abled individuals to live life to their fullest, society needs to adopt a sense of inclusivity. It's not just about making public places and transport accessible for those in a wheelchair but also about creating an environment that values them. It's all about cultivating a culture of respect and understanding and even a small change can make a big difference in the lives of disabled people. In September, a mother who often chronicles her disabled daughter Dallas's journey on their TikTok account, Discover with Dallas (@discoverwithdallas), shared a heartwarming video of Dallas reacting to a Barbie doll that resonated with her—and it quickly went viral.

The 17-second video begins with the mom picking out a Barbie in a wheelchair accompanied by a service dog. As she calls Dallas over to show her the unique doll, her daughter notices the resemblance and reacts with a jaw-dropped expression. "Could we get it?" Dallas asked her mom twice in excitement. "And it has a dog! A service dog!" she exclaimed holding the inclusive Barbie close to her heart. "Representation matters so much. This was the first time we ever saw a wheelchair Barbie with a service dog! Thank you @barbie for this inclusion!" the caption read.

Within a month, the video garnered over 1.5 million views, with thousands of internet users sharing in Dallas's joy at feeling included. "This is adorable. Barbie has changed so many lives by making people feel perfect the way they are," said @opzqtsz. "This healed the Barbie-obsessed little girl in me who never got to see herself as a Barbie," commented @squishyxfrog. "The fact that that was on the shelf gives me so much hope for the world. She is just precious," chimed in @user9346676847576. "Oh my God! I’m bawling! This is why representation matters! Everyone deserves this moment," added @thekhaliasage. 

Many wondered if Dallas got to own the wheelchair Barbie and the mom decided to post an update a couple of days later. Yes! The mom indeed bought the Barbie for her daughter and she couldn't hold back her excitement. "Getting wheelchair Barbie. We actually collect all the wheelchair Barbies because they mean so much to Dallas. And this was the first time we saw this one!" the mom explained in the caption. 

Speaking of inclusivity in the Barbie dolls, the news of Barbies with vitiligo and no hair featuring in Mattel's "most diverse doll line" thrilled many in the world. In January 2020, Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie dolls, unveiled the "Barbie Fashionistas" line that featured diverse skin tones, body types and unique looks. Barbie dolls representing various health conditions, including those with prosthetic legs and vitiligo, were released. The line also introduced dolls with darker skin tones, different hair types, and even a bald option, embodying the inclusivity that the world needs.

You can follow Discover with Dallas (@discoverwithdallas) on TikTok for more content on inclusivity.