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-----Original Message-----
From: * WEB http://www.rit.edu/~easi
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Prof Norm Coombs
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2000 8:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fw: Sign language Barbie to go on sale


>Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:06:52 -0400
>> Sign language Barbie to go on sale
>>
>>
>> Updated 4:16 PM ET April 12, 2000
>> By Sarah Tippit
>> LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Barbie, the world's most
>> famous plastic bombshell, has been a doctor and a
>> designer, but never in her 41 years had she been a
>> champion for the disabled, until this week when she
>> found work as a sign language expert.
>>
>> With one hand permanently molded into the sign for "I
>> love you," Mattel Inc.'s new "Sign Language Barbie"
>> comes with sign language stickers and attempts to
>> teach girls American Sign Language (ASL), said Julia
>> Jensen, a spokesman for the El Segundo, Calif.-based
>> toymaker Mattel.
>>
>> "For over 41 years, Barbie has taken on several
>> exciting aspirational roles ranging from astronaut to
>> presidential candidate," said Adrienne Fontanella,
>> president of the girls' toy and Barbie division at
>> Mattel.
>>
>> "But this is the first time Barbie has communicated an
>> ASL signing position, and in the role of teacher, she
>> can help to break down barriers and facilitate
>> understanding between children with and without
>> disabilities."
>>
>> Mattel worked with the National Center on Deafness at
>> California State University, Northridge to ensure the
>> American Sign Language Barbie doll was accurately
>> representing a sign language teacher, Jensen said. The
>> sign language Barbie, which sells exclusively at U.S.
>> Toys 'R' Us stores, comes with a chalk board, reusable
>> vinyl sign language stickers, and is packaged in a
>> schoolroom setting.
>>
>> By using the stickers, children can make their own
>> sentences through the use of American Sign Language,
>> Jensen said.
>>
>> Jensen added that although Barbie teaches sign
>> language she herself is not deaf or disabled. However
>> she has a disabled friend, Becky, who Mattel began
>> producing in 1997 complete with her own wheelchair and
>> camera, Jensen said.
>>
>> This year Mattel plans to release a "Paralympic
>> Becky," in time for the August 2000 Paralympics in
>> Sydney, Australia, Jensen said. The Paralympic Becky
>> will come with an athletic uniform for track and field
>> events, specially designed wheelchair, riding helmet,
>> gold medal, and tiny water bottle.
>>
>> Paralympic Becky will specialize in track and field
>> events, Jensen said. Her pal, Swimming Champion
>> Barbie, also to be released this summer, will win
>> Olympic gold this year, despite only recently learning
>> how to swim, jaunts in children's baths
>> notwithstanding.
>>
>> "It's the first time Barbie will be able to swim on
>> her own. She has a wind-up feature that will allow her
>> to do the backstroke and freestyle," Jensen said.
>>
>> "We have no plans at this point for a disabled Barbie
>> but I can't tell you it would never happen," Jensen
>> added.
>>
>> In the near future, she added, Barbie is expected to
>> become more socially conscious and will be more active
>> in raising awareness about disabilities, Jensen said.
>>
>> "This is an area where we feel there is a need. There
>> are plans right now for that not just within Barbie
>> but other Mattel brands."
>>
>> Barbie's new direction hints at changes inside Mattel
>> after several tumultuous quarters during which the toy
>> giant tried to remake itself from a traditional
>> toymaker into a family products concern. Earlier this
>> month, Mattel said it would sell its troubled Learning
>> Co. software business, considered a large part of its
>> problems, in a transaction that could fetch far less
>> than its $3.5 billion purchase price.
>>
>> The unit's huge losses led to the resignation of
>> Chairwoman and Chief Executive Jill Barad and several
>> other executives. So far a buyer has not come forward.
>>
>>
>> Meanwhile, Barbie doll products produced more than
>> $1.5 billion revenue for Mattel in 1999 and analysts
>> said domestic Barbie sales in 2000 so far were
>> healthy.
>>
>> http://news.excite.com/news/r/000412/16/life-barbie2
>>

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