Disney sought to feature Down Syndrome characters

A Californian woman is on a mission to see Down Syndrome characters in Disney films.

Keston Ott-Dahl has started a petition asking the animated movie great to represent children with the condition in its feature films.

She has gathered almost 85,000 signatures.

Ott-Dahl told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking it all began when her six year old daughter Jules pointed out there are no Disney princesses like her younger sister Delaney, who has Down Syndrome.

"Kids with Down Syndrome are two and three times more likely to be bullied by their classmates and their peers because kids aren't familiar with people like Delaney.

"If we can show in the children's animated features a familiarity with kids with Down Syndrome maybe they won't be afraid and maybe we can stop discrimination in their hearts before it even begins."