Mattel unveils its first autistic Barbie doll
Nandi Madida and her daughter Nefertiti Madida with Barbie's latest autistic doll.
Image: Supplier
Makers of the famous Barbie doll have unveiled its first-ever autistic Barbie doll, designed with insights from the autistic community.
Mattel Inc this week revealed that the doll aims to represent the diverse ways in which autistic individuals experience, process, and communicate about the world, signalling a commitment to broader representation in toy aisles everywhere.
After 18 months of careful development in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a non-profit disability rights organisation run by and for autistic people that advocates for the rights of the autistic community, 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. 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.
Jamie Cygielman, global head of dolls, Mattel said Barbie has always strived to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine.
"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," said Cygielman.
The autistic Barbie doll includes unique features and accessories designed to authentically reflect the experiences of those on the autism spectrum.
Key elements of the doll's design include a new face sculpt with elbow and wrist articulation for mimicking stimming behaviours and hand gestures. The design of the eye gaze is slightly shifted to the side, representing the tendency of some autistic individuals to avoid direct eye contact.
The accessories include a fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones to manage sensory overload and a pink tablet displaying symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps (AAC) to assist in communication.
The doll is dressed in a loose-fitting purple pinstripe dress and flat-soled purple shoes, which promote comfort and ease of movement.
Colin Killick, executive director of ASAN, said as proud members of the autistic community, their 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 honoured 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” said Killick.
As part of the launch, Barbie has teamed up with advocates for the autistic community, including Nandi Madida, who is a South African singer, actress, model, television presenter and Autism advocate, together with her six-year-old daughter Nefertiti Madida. “Barbie has always represented comfort and imagination for me, and becoming a mother to an autistic child has transformed what representation truly means. 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. For non-autistic children, it becomes a gentle and powerful tool for learning empathy, curiosity, and respect. Play is one of the earliest ways children make sense of the world, and when that world includes neurodiversity, it helps build a future that is more compassionate, informed, and inclusive for everyone,” said Madida.
The autistic Barbie doll is now available at leading retailers nationwide.