Barbie introduces first autistic doll to expand representation in play

Mattel released its first autistic Barbie developed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and the doll includes sensory-aware features and accessories.

Mattel has released its first autistic Barbie, created with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which already features a wide range of skin tones, body types, and accessibility-related designs. Development took more than 18 months and involved input from autistic advocates to reflect common ways autistic people may experience, process, and communicate about the world. Mattel announced the doll is available on Mattel Shop and from major retailers. Key details: - The doll was developed in partnership with ASAN and informed by autistic community guidance over an 18-month process. - Design features include elbow and wrist articulation to enable stimming gestures and an eye gaze shifted slightly to the side to reflect some autistic experiences. - Accessories packaged with the doll include a pink finger-clip fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones, and a tablet. - The doll wears a loose-fitting, sensory-sensitive purple pinstripe A-line dress and flat purple shoes intended to reduce fabric-to-skin contact and promote ease of movement. - Mattel said it will donate more than 1,000 autistic Barbie dolls to pediatric hospitals that provide services for children on the autism spectrum, naming Children's National Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Rady Children's Hospital Orange County. Summary: The release adds an autistic character to the Fashionistas line and emphasizes design choices intended to reflect certain autistic experiences. Mattel has made the doll available through its shop and major retailers and has announced donations to several pediatric hospitals as part of the launch.