Doll
Object number2024.10.4
MediumFabric; Plastic; Paper; Adhesive; String; Unknown stuffing material
Credit LineGift of Joyce Bender
DescriptionStuffed doll in shape of young boy with epilepsy. Boy has plush light pink skin and blue and black plastic eyes. Short curly brown hair. Doll is dressed in white fabric long-sleeve shirt and pants each with red polka dots; shirt is tied closed in the front with red satin ribbon. Numerous paper rings are adhered to the doll's hair; the rings are connected to colored strings whose ends gather together in the doll's blue pouch backpack; the paper rings appear to be hole reinforcement stickers. Doll has green sticker wristband around proper left shirt sleeve wrist.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 10.125 x 6.25 x 3.375 in. (25.7 x 15.9 x 8.6 cm)InscriptionsDoll has green sticker wristband around proper left shirt sleeve wrist with black printed text "VEEGPANION".
Historical NotesAn epilepsy doll sent to joyce Bender by Sam Miller’s mother. The doll had the testing sensors on the doll and was given to children to help them deal with epilepsy testing to help them be less scared. Bender Started the Sam Miller Award, which goes to a young person that has stood up for other young people with disabilities. She met Sam when she spoke in CT and his mom heard her speak and talked about bullying of children with disabilities, Jenny connected because he was bullied. When he was young he cut his wrist and even then those kids bullied him and told him they would show him how to do it right. She met Sam and they were close, she started the award in honor of him after his death. New Galilee, Pennsylvania native Joyce Bender worked as an IT recruiter in Pittsburgh in the 1980s. A request to train students with disabilities in resume writing and interviewing at the Community College of Allegheny County’s Institute of Handicapped Children led to a pivot in her career. Joyce realized that people with disabilities were underemployed and not utilizing their skills and degrees. She started Bender Consulting which focused on finding competitive employment for people with disabilities in the IT sector. As an adult, Bender was diagnosed with epilepsy and lost hearing in her right ear as a result of fall related to a seizure. Through Bender’s advocacy, CCAC rebranded this program as the Institute of Advanced Technology. She became known for her saying, “People with disabilities need paychecks not pity.”
Related person
Joyce Cilitti Bender
Previous owner
Sam Miller
Terms
On View
Not on view
c. 1950
c.1950
c.1950