Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • Popular kids show Peppa Pig wins hearts with new character Mandy Mouse, who uses a wheelchair

Popular kids show Peppa Pig wins hearts with new character Mandy Mouse, who uses a wheelchair

Get-hooked April 10, 2019
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

What’s there to not love about Peppa Pig? The popular kids show with its many animal species ranging from ponies to elephants and pigs touches a chord with children worldwide. Now, it has won even more fans with its most recent character Mandy Mouse, who uses a wheelchair.

Mandy was introduced to the scene last week on the official Peppa Pig Twitter feed with the caption: “Squeak! Introducing the newest member of the playgroup, Mandy Mouse!” Attached to this was a video of Mandy being introduced to the playgroup by Madam Gazelle who says: “Children today we have a visitor… Mandy Mouse.” Mandy Mouse then enters the room with her mother and says: “Hello Everyone, squeak.” The class says returns the hello in a big chorus.

Squeak! Introducing the newest member of the playgroup, Mandy Mouse! ?? pic.twitter.com/cwMy8vFuVS

– Peppa Pig Official (@peppapig) April 3, 2019

The simplicity of that introduction was the winner for Jo Chopra McGowan, Co-founder, Latika Roy Foundation. A voluntary organization based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the foundation offers specialized services and support to families and children with disabilities.

“I love the way Many Mouse is brought in, so naturally, with no major build up or announcement. It seems so natural, so right. And this is how children with disabilities need to treated, They are already there and they don’t have to be introduced, says McGowan.

The clip, 15 seconds long, has been shared by many parents, some whose comments reveal how profoundly Mandy Mouse has touched lives.

Among those who posted a comment was also a 29-year-old wheelchair user. “Well done! With love from a 29 year old wheelchair user who will now be watching Peppa Pig avidly.” Another parent said, “I could cry! My daughter loves Peppa and has a neuromuscular disorder. This is a game changer. Thank you!!!!!!”

Among those to tweet her happiness at this move was Rati Misra, Advisor, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) who said “My nephew’s favourite show! Introducing disabilities at this stage helps makes it just so ‘normal’ for them! Instead of the ‘mainstreaming’ efforts at a later stage.

Catch ’em young

Vinayana Khurana, a student blogger and wheelchair user based in New Delhi, said she would encourage her friends to watch the show.

It is really good step to introduce kids to the concept of disability at a really young age as it’s a great step towards making an inclusive society. We don’t need inspiring characters as there is nothing inspiring in disability. What is needed is the normalization of the concept of disability. – Vinayana Khurana, Student

This is not the first time a popular children’s book has portrayed characters with disabilities. Sesame Street introduced Julia on the autism spectrum a few years ago. Then there is splendid line up of characters in the Marvel series created by the legendary Stan Lee.

In doing so, they have made an invaluable contribution, says Anupama Bakhshi, parent to a child on the autism spectrum. An English subject expert, Bakhshi recalls an incident when she created a sample lesson for Class 3, in which she had included a character with a disability.

“The note that came back, from a well-established publishing house, mind you, was that some of the material was ‘politically incorrect ‘ and not ‘sensitive’. I never really recovered from the quandary I was thrown into. The presence of a wheelchair bound child in a young child’s learning space is not sensitive and not politically correct? Are we blocking out neuro-diversity and special abilities from the lives and mediums of knowledge of little children and creating an idyllic world of ‘perfection’ for them? Does it make the neuro-typical world uncomfortable? she asks.

Bakhshi, who refused to change her lesson, says it’s high time these differences were acknowledged in India in mainstream popular works.

“It’s about time we ruffle some feathers and accept and acknowledge differences around us! And the children are sensitized and made aware. Without that, we cannot blame them for being insensitive peers and bullies later on. She celebrates the growing visibility of wheelchairs and sees in this the signs of a brave new world. “One where no Wonder kids will have to wear helmets and no Mandy Mouse and the like will have to face alienation.

ALSO READ:
What made Stan Lee’s superheroes so magical for children with autism

Watch in Sign Language

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Veruschka Foundation starts online cooking modules for people with developmental disabilities

Accessibility

Katie Pennick’s YouTube show ‘Cooking in a Wheelchair’ discusses accessible cooking in a fun way

Parasports

Champ para swimmer Wg Commander Shantanu looks to set a new record, this time in rowing

Get-hooked

Dealing with sensory overload in kids with autism this Diwali

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.