Nandi Madida and her daughter Nefertiti Madida Picture: Mattel
Toymaker Mattel has unveiled today its first-ever autistic Barbie doll.
The new doll was created with guidance from the autistic community to represent what autistic people may experience, process, and communicate about the world around them.
Partnership
Mattel said the new autistic Barbie doll developed in partnership with ASAN, a non-profit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people that advocates for the rights of the autistic community invites more children to see themselves represented in Barbie.
‘This doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which features the most diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities.”
Guidance
The new autistic Barbie doll took 18 months to develop.
Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls, Mattel said 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.”
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Features
The autistic Barbie doll features and accessories include:
Face and Body
Along with a new face sculpt, the autistic Barbie doll features elbow and wrist articulation, enabling stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the autistic community use to process sensory information or express excitement.
Eye Gaze
The doll is designed with an eye gaze shifted slightly to the side, which reflects how some members of the autistic community may avoid direct eye contact.
Accessories
Each doll comes with a pink finger clip fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones and a tablet
Fidget Spinner
The doll holds a pink finger clip fidget spinner that actually spins, offering a sensory outlet that can help reduce stress and improve focus.
Headphones
Pink noise-cancelling headphones rest on top of the doll’s head as a helpful and fashionable accessory that reduces sensory overload by blocking out background noise.
Tablet
A pink tablet showing symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps (AAC) on its screen serves as a tool to help with everyday communication.
Sensory-Sensitive Fashions
The doll wears a loose-fitting, purple pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact. Purple shoes complete the outfit, with flat soles to promote stability and ease of movement.
Autistic people
Colin Killick, Executive Director, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) they were 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.”
As part of the doll launch, Barbie is teaming up with advocates for the autistic community, including Autism advocate, Founder of Africa’s number one parenting and family podcast,
Collabs
The Motherhood Network, Apple Music host, and Creative Councillor at the Gates Foundation Nandi Madida and her beautiful daughter, 6 year-old Nefertiti Madida.
“This autistic Barbie is deeply emotional because it reflects children who are so often left out. For autistic children, seeing themselves in a doll like this affirms that they are seen, valued, and understood exactly as they are,” said Nandi Madida.
“For non-autistic children, it becomes a gentle and powerful tool for learning empathy, curiosity, and respect.”
Availability
Consistent with the Fashionistas dolls representing individuals with type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness, the autistic Barbie doll was named and created with the community’s guidance to allow more children to see themselves in Barbie.
The autistic Barbie doll is now available at leading retailers nationwide.
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