Barbie with Autism: Mattel introduces autistic Barbie with special features to represent autism community

Barbie with autism: Toy creator Mattel Inc. has introduced its first autistic Barbie with multiple special features to celebrate the community of autistic people and help more children to see themselves represented in the fashion doll. The autistic Barbie unveiled by the toy giant is a part of the Fashionista line created with the disability rights non-profit organization Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).

According to ABC 10, the features embedded in the popular fashion doll are meant to reflect some experiences on the spectrum. Noor Pervez, community engagement manager of ASAN, said that the aim was to help autistic children see themselves and also deliver a message to non-autistic people.

"We want people to kind of get an early reinforcer," Pervez said, as quoted by CBC News. "And to be able to pass down to their kids this early reminder that autistic people are a normal and valuable part of our communities," he added.

How the new Barbie resembles autistic people

Pervez said that advocates helped choose the unique features of the fashion doll over 18 months of development. Citing an example, he further stated that the eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some autistic people sometimes avoid direct eye contact.

According to Mattel, Barbie’s parent company, the doll has mobile elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping, and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement. It also carries a fidget spinner for similar sensory reasons, CBC News reported.

Noise-canceling headphones are also included with the doll for sensory overload. The doll also has an augmentative and alternative communication tablet for non-verbal communication.

What is autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, according to the organization Autism Speaks.