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There’s a new kind of Barbie girl in this Barbie world.
Mattel just released its first-ever autistic Barbie doll in an effort to represent how those with autism spectrum disorder may experience the world around them.
The doll, which is part of Barbie’s Fashionistas line, was in development for more than 18 months with guidance from the autistic community in partnership with Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a non-profit disability rights organization.
Barbie’s design team made choices that would feel authentic to people on the autism spectrum through the doll’s features and accessories.
“Barbie has always strived to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, and we’re proud to introduce our first autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work,” Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, said in a statement.
The new doll “helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie,” she added.
Mattel’s autistic Barbie features flexible elbow and wrist joints that allow for stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some people with autism use to process sensory information or express excitement.
The doll also features a gaze that is shifted slightly to the side, to “[reflect] how some members of the autistic community may avoid direct eye contact,” according to the press release.
Each doll also comes with a finger clip fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones and a tablet. The fidget spinner actually spins, which provides a sensory outlet meant to reduce stress and enhance focus.
Barbie’s fashionable noise-cancelling headphones — which are pink, of course — sit on top of her head to reduce sensory overload and cancel out any background noise.
The pink tablet, a tool for everyday communication, shows symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps on its screen.
Additionally, the autistic Barbie wears loose-fitting clothes — specifically a purple pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt — for less fabric-to-skin contact. Her purple shoes feature flat soles to promote stability and ease of movement.
“It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is,” Colin Killick, Executive Director of ASAN, said. “We’re honored to see this milestone come to life, and we will keep pushing for more representation like this that supports our community in dreaming big and living proud.”
To celebrate, Barbie is donating more than 1,000 autistic Barbie dolls to leading pediatric hospitals that provide specialized services for children on the autism spectrum. The company is also teaming up with advocates for the autistic community, including autism advocate and creative entrepreneur Madison Marilla.
“I’ve been collecting Barbie dolls since I was four years old, and now this autistic Barbie will be one of my favorites,” Marilla said. “This autistic Barbie makes me feel truly seen and heard. I hope all the kids I’ve mentored feel the same when they see her, and I hope people who aren’t autistic feel educated and gain a better understanding of autism when they see this doll.”
The new autistic Barbie goes along with Mattel’s initiative to allow more people to see themselves in Barbie.
Last summer, Mattel released its first-ever Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes, complete with a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump in Barbie’s signature pink.
