Mattel has launched its first autistic Barbie doll, developed over 18 months with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a disability rights organisation run by and for autistic people.
The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which features a range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and representations of conditions and disabilities.
“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. The doll, designed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie,” Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls, Mattel said in a statement.
Autistic Barbie doll released by Mattel after 18-month development process
The doll features elbow and wrist articulation, enabling stimming, hand flapping, and hand gestures that some members of the autistic community use to process information or express excitement.
The eye gaze is shifted to the side, reflecting how some members of the autistic community may avoid eye contact.
Accessories include a pink finger clip fidget spinner that spins, noise-cancelling headphones that rest on the doll’s head to reduce sensory overload, and a tablet displaying symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps on its screen.
The doll wears a pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact. Shoes with flat soles promote stability and ease of movement.
“As proud members of the autistic community, our ASAN team was thrilled to help create the first-ever autistic Barbie doll. It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is. Partnering with Barbie allowed us to share insights and guidance throughout the design process to ensure the doll fully represents and celebrates the autistic community, including the tools that help us be independent. 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,” Colin Killick, Executive Director, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) added.
Mattel creates autistic Barbie doll with stimming features and eye gaze design
Barbie has partnered with advocates including Precious and Mikko Mirage, Madison Marilla, and Aarushi Pratap to celebrate their experiences. The team filmed a video capturing their reactions to the doll, available on the Mattel YouTube channel.
“Dolls have always brought me comfort, stability, and joy. I’ve been collecting Barbie dolls since I was four years old, and now this autistic Barbie will be one of my favorites. My good friend said these words to me, let yourself out and don’t hold yourself in, and it taught me how to educate people about autism. 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,” Madison Marilla, Autism Advocate and Creative Entrepreneur further explained.
The doll follows Fashionistas dolls representing individuals with type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness. The collection features over 175 looks.
Since 2020, Barbie has researched the benefits of doll play through a study with researchers at Cardiff University. The research found that playing with dolls activates parts of children’s brains involved in empathy and social processing skills. The study suggests that doll play could help develop social skills for all children, including those who display traits associated with autism.
Barbie will donate more than 1,000 autistic Barbie dolls to paediatric hospitals that provide services for children on the autism spectrum, including Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County.
The autistic Barbie doll is available on Mattel Shop and from retailers.
