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2-Year-Old Boy In Wheelchair Left Awestruck After Seeing Ad In Target Featuring Another Boy 'Like Him'
Demi Garza-Pena and her son, two-year-old Oliver Garza-Pena, thought they were on a typical shopping trip at Target.
But when they passed through the boys' clothing section and saw a special ad, designed specifically for children like Oliver, they knew it was a special kind of day.
Garza-Pena was passing through the boys' clothing when she realized Oliver had stopped behind her to look at something.
She turned around and saw him looking up at an advertisement of another little boy, not much older than him, also using a wheelchair. Oliver looked utterly awestruck and would not break his gaze from the advertisement.
Garza-Pena took a moment to take a picture while Oliver was still looking up at the advertisement. The moment was not staged or practiced; it was a natural and beautiful reaction to the power equal representation can have.
Garza-Pena reflected:
"I could see the look on his face, he knew that boy was like him."
After they had returned home, Garza-Pena shared the photograph, along with a special thank-you note to Target, to the Facebook page she runs for her son, called "Ollie's World."
The post quickly gained traction, many in love with Oliver's genuine expression, and others reacting to Garza-Pena's resounding hashtag choice, "Representation Matters."
Ollie's World / Facebook
Ollie's World / Facebook
Ollie's World / Facebook
Ollie's World / Facebook
Ollie's World / Facebook
The post was shared so far and wide, it actually reached the mother of the boy in the Target advertisement, Ashley Robinson. Her son in the ad is ten-year-old Colton Robinson in Massachusetts.
Ollie's World / Facebook
Robinson shared her reaction to seeing Oliver's photo for the first time:
"I was overcome by emotion and started crying. The expression on Oliver's face looking up to Colton was extremely touching."
The two moms have since connected on social media and have stayed in touch. Though their sons have different disabilities, Oliver with Caudal Regression Syndrome and Colton with Spina Bifida, the women have discovered their days look very similar, and they share many of the same challenges.
Both women agree equal representation needs to continue to be pursued across media advertisements, and that this moment between Oliver and Colton is the perfect example as to why.
Garza-Pena said:
"We want companies to jump on board for more inclusive advertising. These photos need to be everywhere all the time. People with disabilities need more representation in the community."
Robinson agreed, citing Oliver's reaction:
"Children of all abilities and sizes need to be represented. I mean, who doesn't want to look at an ad and see someone that you have something in common with? It's important for everyone to feel included. It's just a beautiful thing."
Though we're a long way away from seeing equal representation everywhere, in all media forms, it's important to see moments in the media like Colton's.
And perhaps it's even more important to see, for children like Oliver, how Colton's inclusion is really making a difference.
Segway Just Announced A New Stroller For Able-Bodied Adults That Is Straight Out Of 'Wall-E'
Segway has finally announced their latest invention nearly two decades after its original creation, and there is something oddly familiar about it.
The newest addition to the Segway-Ninebot line was finally announced and it is called the S-Pod.
The S-Pod fulfills an old promise of even less physical exertion than its predecessors — it has a seat.
Like the models that came before it, the S-Pod self-balances on two wheels. However, Segway has added a third wheel for the vehicle to rest on while it is stopped.
Further changes include a navigation panel and control knob in lieu of the previous leaning backwards and forwards to control the machine. It also claims speeds of up to 25 miles per hour with a range of nearly 44 miles (contingent on terrain, the rider, and other factors).
Despite it accommodating seated passengers, the S-Pod does not seem to be suitable for riders requiring a wheelchair.
For some, a seated Segway sounds exactly like what they have been dreaming of.
這是我夢想中的坐騎了,哈哈 https://t.co/cBpUytH404— 兔眼看天下 (@兔眼看天下) 1578099356.0
"This is my dream mount, haha"
I need one!!! https://t.co/0bLvQYltd6— ? (@?) 1578089149.0
"Idk I'm on my way to becoming crippled from an autoimmune disease so this legit looks awesome to me for my not so bright future lol" - OGraineshadow (Reddit)
However, others feel like the S-Pod looks eerily familiar.
from funny
Don't recognize the picture? Check out this clip from Pixar's 2008 film, WALL-E.
Fitless Humans (WALL·E) www.youtube.com
Many people agree.
Wall-Eeeeeeee! https://t.co/1ujIb3BdO0— Patrick Bishop (@Patrick Bishop) 1578095924.0
"Wall-E is very underrated for how much of a masterpiece that it really is." - DTVoid (Reddit)
Mostly people are not thrilled with society's trajectory.
It's a power wheelchair for abled people. Utterly useless for people who NEED wheelchair. #DisabilityDongle Segway… https://t.co/aL0RNWRRuP— CanGal 🥄 (@CanGal 🥄) 1578094041.0
Please cancel the rest of civilization now. https://t.co/lwJ8R427ta via @gizmodo— Charlie Santo (@Charlie Santo) 1578090648.0
😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/NAoqITEiUQ— Shuma-Gorath (@Shuma-Gorath) 1578075146.0
Ughh, humans 🙄 https://t.co/pxcN1ccoUk via @wired— Diego Alamir (@Diego Alamir) 1578105321.0
"When I first saw it I assumed they were making a new wheelchair, but according to one article I read it's not going to be marketed to those who need wheelchairs." - Paper_Cut_On_My_Eye (Reddit)
"I like how when the balance mechanism malfunctions it has the option of either slamming the back of your head into the ground, or going for the full face plant." - MachReverb (Reddit)
At this time, the S-Pod is still just in its conceptual stage but it Segway-Ninebot has promised that it will make an appearance at CES 2020 which takes place next week in Las Vegas.