Little girl in wheelchair has the most priceless reaction to finding a wheelchair Barbie with service dog

Representation and inclusivity matter more than we can imagine in our society. Especially when it comes to kids with special needs, they look for mediums of entertainment where they don't feel like the odd one out. A little girl named Dallas (@discover_with_dallas on Instagram) often shares updates about how she has been navigating her life in a wheelchair with the help of her mom. Dallas has cerebral palsy which affects her mobility and keeps her confined to her trusted wheelchair. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

Kids like Dallas often try to find toys and dolls they can relate to and it seems she finally found the perfect thing in the toy section of a store. Dallas' mother can be seen handing her a Barbie doll in an Instagram reel that amassed over 4 million views since it was posted on September 2024. Upon taking a closer look at the doll, Dallas' face instantly lights up and she starts pleading with her mother to buy the Barbie doll immediately. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 

What sets this particular Barbie apart from its other models is that this Barbie is also using a wheelchair just like Dallas. Not only that but there is a toy dog in the package as well, Dallas quickly realizes that Barbie has a service dog. She hugs the box containing the Barbie and refuses to let go of it. In another video, Dallas' mom mentions that having a service dog can be useful for disabled people but so far, she has only seen adult wheelchair users have service dogs with them. She asked the followers of their Instagram page to share their thoughts on whether Dallas should get a service dog or not. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

People in the comment section appreciated how the Mattel toy company has created a thoughtful product that represents disabled kids. @relativovuoto wrote, "This is why representation is so important." @tori.balls shared, "I use a wheelchair frequently, I’m almost 18 and cried when I got my wheelchair Barbie, she lives on my shelf. I grew up never seeing disabled people represented as beautiful like a Barbie, it destroyed my self-confidence using mobility aids in public. And honestly, it warms my heart knowing kids now will grow up knowing there’s nothing wrong with using mobility aids. This is why representation matters."

@antrien quipped, "Here I am, a grown, 50-year-old, football player build, big man, crying cause I’m so happy for this girl!" @vinayanakhuranacp added, "This is such a beautiful moment to witness! Barbie dolls with disabilities are helping children see that beauty and strength come in all forms. It's empowering for kids with disabilities to see themselves represented, and it's equally important for others to learn about inclusion and empathy. Celebrating diversity is what truly makes us stronger. Here's to creating a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and included!" @athena.dax mentioned, "I'm 38, and a couple of months ago, I saw a Barbie wearing hearing aids. Of course, I bought it, thinking about how happy a 7-year-old me, just outfitted with her first hearing aids, would have been with this Barbie. I'm so happy that kids with disabilities today have this representation!"

You can follow Dallas (@discover_with_dallas) on Instagram for more details about her life and how she is making the most of it.