A wheelchair Lego mini-figure is making its debut this summer, answering pleas from some who wanted the popular toy company to include people with disabilities in its play figures.
Photos of the mini-figure emerged from International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany on Wednesday, according to
National Public Radio.
A movement called Toy Like Me has been pushing the Denmark-based Lego, Hasbro, Fisher Price, and other toymakers to include disabled figures.
Emma Owen, Lego's spokeswoman in Britain and Ireland, told NRP that the wheelchair figurine is part of its City line and will go on sale in June.
The
Guardian said the wheelchair figure marked a change of heart for Lego, which had initially pushed back on calls to add specific disabled figurines.
Rebecca Atkinson of Toy Like Me had launched a
Change.org petition in an effort to get Lego's attention about adding disability figurines.
"I'm delighted," Atkinson told the website
The Mighty. "I've worked hard to set this issue on the agenda within the toy industry and say that the cultural marginalization of 150 million disabled kids by the toy industry is not OK. I'm hopeful this is the beginning of real core brand commitment from LEGO to continue positively representing disabled children in their much loved toys."
The mini-figure was shown in a photo posted by the website
Brickset.com, which touted the figurine's media exposure. The website, though, questioned if Lego wasn't on this path earlier.
"It's certainly captured their imagination, especially as it's seen to be a victory for the #ToyLikeMe campaign," said Brickset.com. "... Is that actually the case? The campaign commenced in April 2015 so it's possible LEGO has had enough time to design and manufacture the part if it started around that time ... We will never know unless LEGO issues a press release."
Lego wheelchair figure received positive support on social media.