Em Rusciano weighs in on autistic Barbie.

Em Rusciano, who is autistic, said she initially felt unsettled by Mattel's new autistic Barbie but later shared a post from a neurodivergent advocate and expressed conditional support. The doll includes features such as a fidget spinner, noise‑cancelling headphones, a shifted eye gaze and articulated joints, and was developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Em Rusciano, who is autistic, shared mixed reactions after Mattel announced an autistic Barbie. She said the doll initially unsettled her and that her heart and gut were aching, and she wrote she would reflect further. Rusciano later posted a screenshot from neurodivergent advocate Sonny Jane and said she had come to support the doll. Mattel says the toy was developed with input from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Key details: - Em Rusciano, who was diagnosed with level one autism in November 2022, said she felt conflicted and planned to "interrogate" her feelings further. - Rusciano later shared a post from Sonny Jane, a neurodivergent advocate, and wrote that she had landed in support of the doll. - The doll is described as including items such as a fidget spinner and noise‑cancelling headphones, plus a shifted eye gaze and articulated elbows and wrists to enable stimming gestures. - Mattel developed the toy in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). - Sonny Jane's post argued the doll can represent autistic people with higher support needs for whom certain supports and devices are visible. Summary: The discussion highlights differing views within the autistic community about how toys portray neurodiversity. Rusciano moved from feeling unsettled to expressing conditional support after seeing other perspectives. Undetermined at this time.