{"id":198919,"date":"2020-01-02T23:33:34","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T15:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1815139\/"},"modified":"2020-01-02T23:33:34","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T15:33:34","slug":"american-girl-debuts-first-character-with-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2020\/01\/02\/american-girl-debuts-first-character-with-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"American Girl Debuts First Character With Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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American Girl introduced its first doll with hearing loss. (Photo Credit: Mattel)<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

When I was a kid, American Girl dolls wore quaint dresses with plaited hair and told stories of child labor, poverty, slavery, animal abuse, and war.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thirty years later, the manufacturer is introducing contemporary characters with modern maladies, including 2020 Girl of the Year Joss Kendrick<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Modeled after 17-year-old Olympic hopeful surfer Caroline Marks, Joss is a “fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer,” Mattel said in an announcement<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

She joins a growing lineup of characters<\/a> who\u2014through a companion book and sheer imagination\u2014aim to help children grow with confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Mattel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Whether on her surfboard, at the gym, or playing with bulldog Murph, Joss shows kids the importance of trying new things, pushing past stereotypes, and being a good team player.<\/span><\/p>\n

“American Girl has a rich legacy of creating timeless characters who encourage girls to reach for new heights and discover who they’re meant to be,” General Manager Jamie Cygielman said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

And while I don’t agree with the company’s limited gender scope, I appreciate what these dolls<\/a> can do for young people learning about themselves and their capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

To create Joss, American Girl worked with a team of experts, including Crystal DaSilva, Women’s Deaf Shortboard champion; Dr. Sharon Pajka, specialist in portrayals of deaf characters in adolescent literature; and Jennifer Richardson, educational audiologist and founder of Hearing Milestones Foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a two-book series, the California surfer girl accepts her brother’s dare to try out for the competitive cheer team, assuming it’ll be easy. But instead of pom-poms and chants, Joss enters a world of daring pyramids, flips, and jumps.<\/span><\/p>\n

“By going all-in with cheer, Joss reaches new heights and discovers a whole new side of herself,” according to Mattel.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2020 Girl of the Year retails for $98, and comes with a swimsuit, hoodie, and shorts, plus removable hearing aid in her right ear. Other accouterments include a surfboard and win gear, cheer outfits and kit (backpack, slides, competition shoes), and her pet Murph and Surf Dog.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Mattel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This spring, American Girl and partner Volkswagen Accessories will debut Joss’s VW Surf Bus, complete with storage bench-cum-bed, pop-up stove, fold-out table, and, I can only hope, a licensed driver.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re proud to welcome Joss Kendrick, whose stories are sure to instill confidence and character in girls who are learning to think about possibilities in their own lives,” Cygielman said.<\/span><\/p>\n

In honor of the new collection<\/a>, American Girl has donated $25,000 to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) to support the nonprofit’s education and awareness programs, as well as its 2020 Walk4Hearing event.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What could be more exciting than to have an American Girl character be a role model for girls with hearing loss?” HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelly said<\/a>. “I hope girls who read Joss’s inspiring story will help create awareness about hearing loss among their friends and family.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The Joss doll and book retails for $98 via American Girl retail stores (brick-and-mortar and online) and specialty boutiques.<\/span><\/p>\n

More on Geek.com:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n