Mattel launches autistic Barbie to increase vary championing for variety in toy isles

The new doll joins the a range that includes Barbies with Down syndrome, blindness and vitiligo and was designed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network

View Image

Mattel Inc. has expanded its Barbie range to include an autistic doll, broadening its already diverse doll world.

The toy maker on Monday, January 12 launched the newest Barbie to its range. The autistic Barbie joins the a line that includes dolls with Down syndrome, blindness and vitiligo in an effort to celebrate diversity.

“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,” said Jamie Cygielman, global head of dolls for the company.

Mattel said the doll was named and created with the community’s guidance to allow more children to see themselves in Barbie.

The doll was designed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a non-profit disability rights organisation that advocates for the rights of the autistic community, over more than 18 months.

“It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is,” said Colin Killick, executive director for ASAN.

The doll was created with intentional design choices “to authentically reflect some experiences individuals on the autism spectrum may relate to”, Mattel said. The Barbie uses several features and accessories to do this.

The doll has elbow and wrist articulation to reflect stimming, hand flapping and other hand gestures to capture how some members of the autistic community process sensory information or express excitement, the company said.

The autistic Barbie’s eye gaze is also shifted slightly to the side, reflecting how some members of the community may avoid direct eye contact.

She dons a loose-fitting, purple A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt. Her outfit allows for less fabric-to-skin contact, while matching purple, flat-sole shoes provide stability and ease of movement, Mattel said.

The Barbie comes with several accessories, including a finger clip fidget spinner that spins to allow a sensory outlet, noise-cancelling headphones to reduce sensory overload by blocking out background noise and a tablet showing symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps (AAC) on its screen to aid with communication.

All the accessories are in pink!

“The doll… helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie,” said Jamie Cygielman, Mattel’s global head of dolls.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.