Lego reveals first minifigure with a disability

Danish toymaker Lego has revealed plans to release the first ever “minifigure” with a disability, as part of a new Lego CITY toy set due to go on sale in June.

The minifigure of a beanie-wearing boy in a wheelchair, accompanied by what appears to be an assistance dog was first photographed at an international toy fair in Germany and posted to the Facebook page of Promobricks on January 27.

The announcement comes in the wake of a Change.org petition first launched in May last year, lobbying the toymaker to include minifigures with disabilites in its sets.

The #ToyLikeMe campaign garnered more than 20,000 signatures and became a focal point for those eager to see more positive representation of disability by the toy company.

“My god son is only two and is in a wheelchair. I feel it only fair for toy production companies to include everybody, either able bodied or not,” commenter Charlotte Allen wrote at the time.

Campaign organiser Rebecca Atkinson has since taken to the petition page to express her support for Lego’s decision.

“We've got genuine tears of joy right now,” she wrote.

“Lego we salute you! You've just made a 150 million children, their mums, dad, nans, grandads, teachers, carers, pet dogs and hamsters very, VERY, VERY happy!”

Lego has previously been the subject of criticism over the lack of diverse representation in its toys.

In an article in the Guardian last year, Ms Atkinson herself accused the brand of “excluding” children with disabilities and pointing out its obligation to help change “cultural perceptions”

“It’s about brands such as Lego using their vast power of influence to positive effect,” she wrote.

“For a child with a disability it would be hugely affirming to be reflected by a brand such as Lego.

“For children without a disability, seeing a brand such as Lego celebrate human difference helps to create a more positive attitude when they meet someone with an impairment in real life.

“It’s a win-win situation.”