High School Student In Wheelchair Stars As Dorothy in ‘Wizard Of Oz’ With Her Service Dog As Toto

Apr 25, 2019 by apost team

"The Wizard of Oz" is a classic, and Dorothy is one of the most iconic characters of all time -- oh, and her little dog, Toto, too. That makes it even more special that Erin Bischoff got the lead in her high school's production.

Erin suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder also known as brittle bone disease. At only 17, she's already had more than 10 surgeries and 100 fractures. She uses a wheelchair for mobility.

The teen auditioned for "The Wizard of Oz" with the expectation that she'd probably play a small role. She was shocked when she landed the part of Dorothy. If she expected her wheelchair to be an issue, she was wrong!

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The school changed parts of the script that mentioned running or walking to better fit with Erin's circumstances. For example, lines like "walk on over here" became "roll on over here." According to Erin's mother, they even added a little wheelchair humor.

The best part? The role of Toto went to Erin's service dog, Gauge. For four years, he's helped Erin navigate life.

With him, she can go more places on her own and experience independence. A wider variety of everyday activities, such as opening doors and getting through crowds, is possible with Gauge at her side.

They were perfect for the part of Dorothy and Toto. The duo wowed the audience with their performance. Erin hopes that this opens people's eyes. She wants her performance to show them that disability doesn't need to be hidden away.

“I really want them to just see me as anyone else who’s on the stage,” she told CBS News. “And that overall, disability should be embraced.”

Erin and Gauge obviously have a bright future ahead of them! What do you think of this talented teenager? Let us know in the comments and pass this along to your friends and family to see what they think, too!