A 10-year-old Columbia, Missouri girl is taking on a mega corporation and asking for change.
"I think it would be fun to have a doll that actually looks like me because a lot of my friends have an American Girl doll that looks like them," said Jordan.
Jordan Reeves was born without the lower half of her left arm. Now she's asking American Girl to make dolls with limb differences, for kids just like her. The toy company already makes accessories for dolls with hearing loss, in a wheelchair, with diabetes or on crutches.
"I think I have the chance to tell the world that it's okay to be different," Jordan explained.
Mom Jen helped Jordan come up with the Change.org petition which calls on American Girl to allow fans to send their dolls in to the Doll Hospital where they will be match with arms and legs that mirror their owners.
"American Girl spends a lot of time encouraging girls to be empowered, to be themselves, to be strong," said Jen, who writes about her daughter's journey on the blog Born Just Right. "She's that all American girl who just happens to have one hand."
American Girl was unavailable for a recorded interview, but in a statement the company said:
American Girl has a long history of creating dolls and accessories that speak to diversity and inclusion, and we appreciate the trust our fans, like Jordan, have in us to create a particular item. Each day, American Girl receives hundreds of passionate requests for specific products to be created. While we know each request is important, at this time (as in years past) we are unable to accept product ideas or guarantee when, or if, a particular product will be developed. That said, our design team is constantly exploring new ways to enhance our doll lines with items that resonate with girls on a variety of levels. Girls like Jordan inspire us every day, and we look forward to creating new products, stories, and experiences that celebrate the countless unique qualities in all of them.
Either way Jen is proud of Jordan, who saw an injustice, empowered herself and tried to make a difference.
"When you're growing up as a kid who is already standing out with a physical difference and everywhere you go you see things that remind you that you do not have the standard look, having the opportunity to have a doll that looks lie you helps confirm that you are who you are and to be proud of that," said Jen.
If you want to help Jordan and Jen, you can click here to sign their Change.org petition.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
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