Michelle Popovitch
Ana Melchior
Christina Melendez
St. John's University
Charles Wankel
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My Sibling Dolls are boy dolls that contain a special message about how life can be when a loved one has a disability, and contains a booklet with information on the disability. Shortly after the establishment of My Sibling Dolls, My Pal Dolls were created as boy dolls that contain booklets about important social themes that are fun to read, and encourage children to develop their own stories. When people purchase My Sibling Dolls or My Pal Dolls, the dolls are outfitted with clothes, accessories, and booklets that are made in the United States by adults who live with disabilities at a local sheltered workshop in New Jersey.
Andy has a younger brother Michael who has autism. His older brother, Stephen, stays home to take care of Michael while Andy and his parents are out at Andy’s piano recital. They come home to find a waterfall pouring down through the ceiling of the family room, and Andy immediately thinks his special night is ruined.
To people who live with a family member who has a disability, this is their reality. It also happens to be the story included with Tommy, one of three My Sibling Dolls available for purchase online. Children who receive the doll are transported into Andy’s world, and the life he lives with his brother Michael. They can relate to the story if they share a home with someone who has a disability, or they can learn about what a day in the life is like for families who have children with disabilities. The profound, and moving stories are based on the real life events experienced by Loretta, mom of Danny and CEO of My Sibling Dolls.
Each My Sibling Doll and accompanying booklet raises awareness about those living with disabilities, however Loretta wasn’t going to stop there. As an advocate, leader of a company, and motivated by her connectedness to the cause, Loretta created a work program for adults with disabilities- where they help dress and package each of the My Sibling Dolls purchased. This business solution addresses an important global problem, that is, "How do we increase the economic and social prosperity of those with disabilities while allowing them to thrive in healthy environment and improve their overall well-being?" Loretta, with My Sibling Doll and My Pal Doll, has made tremendous progress and created a culture where everyone involved including the employees, customers, and the community of families with children who have disabilities feels someone is in their corner, willing to fight for their rights and well-being.
Loretta Boronat, the CEO of My Sibling Dolls, has had a growing passion for sewing since the age of eight. She started off working as a seamstress doing alterations and slipcovers and was then given the idea of designing clothes for dolls and that was only the beginning. Loretta’s middle son was born with autism and she wanted to make sure he received all the love and care he deserved. Doing so, she has become an advocate for autism awareness after seeing very few resources catered to children with autism and other related special needs.
Keeping up with her passions for sewing and designing clothes for dolls, Loretta created the brilliant idea of “a doll with stories to share.” The concept allowed her to strengthen her advocacy and awareness of individuals with disabilities for many people around the world. These stories have been a great way to educate the public, and give children the support they need who may also have a sibling with developmental differences. The dolls have served as companions for the children and something they can confide in for emotional support and call them their friends. Combining her interests and passions, Loretta has been able to established her creative, entrepreneurial business.
My Sibling Dolls and My Pal Dolls have been created to spread awareness of autism. These dolls have impacted children, adults, and those with autism all over the world. Constructing these dolls has allowed children with disabilities to feel important and acknowledged. Giving children and their siblings with disabilities a chance to relate to something. After launching My Sibling Dolls, Loretta decided to extend the brand and create My Pal Dolls. My Pal Dolls recognized the importance of creating boy dolls. The mission of her brand and all her dolls is to educate and inform people of the fact that some people develop different. In doing this she promotes kindness, peace, health, and much more.
In addition to this, My Sibling and My Pal Dolls have created a work program that extends to those with disabilities. These workers engage in work which includes outfitting, labeling, and packaging. This gives adults with disabilities the opportunity to work at a job that is tailored to their level of ability. Providing them with a sense of accomplishment, pride, and allows them to challenge themselves.
My Sibling Dolls mission is all about the idea of spreading awareness of individuals with disabilities and provides support to children who have loved ones with a disability through the dolls. In addition, My Sibling Dolls continues to address this issue of lack of awareness and services available to people with autism and other related disabilities through expanding their work program which creates opportunities for adults with special needs to contribute their talents in the manufacturing process of creating these dolls.
This innovation gives the business a great brand image and consumer perception of the company as they not only use their platform to create great products, but it also shows that they care about the special needs community and what to do what they can do get them involved.
My Sibling and My Pal Dolls acknowledges and promotes awareness of people with disabilities. This company never stops advocating for this cause, showing just how dedicated they are. My Sibling and My Pal Dolls create a way to educated children through fun. These dolls also help children with disabilities and their siblings relate to someone going through the same thing. Giving the children strength, connection, and a way to feel special. In doing this, the goal is to help people learn about disabilities and all the ways they can contribute to the cause. This will help connect society in a way never seen before, showing love for everyone. A great way to give everyone a voice and show how special being different is.
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Entrepreneur and master seamstress, Loretta Boronat was able to marry her two passions - sewing and advocating for those with disabilities to create My Sibling Dolls and My Pal Dolls. My Sibling Dolls are 18 inch boy dolls that come with a booklet that contains a story about what life might be like when a sibling has a disability, as well as educational information about the disability. When Loretta noticed the growing demand for boy dolls after launching My Sibling Dolls, she decided to create and brand My Pal Dolls. Similarly to My Sibling Dolls, My Pal Dolls are 18 inch boy dolls that come with a booklet about socially relevant topics such as going green, patriotism, peacemaking, and autism awareness. All of the dolls are outfitted, packaged, stored, and shipped in the United States by adults with disabilities through an employment program with the company, an opportunity that is unfortunately rarely available for them.