Mattel has introduced a new Barbie doll designed to represent autistic individuals. This Barbie includes features like hands that move in stimming motions, along with accessories such as a tablet and fidget spinner, reflecting experiences common in neurodivergent people.
Created with the help of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the new Barbie designed to represent autism took over a year and a half to develop. It’s meant to show how autistic children often see and interact with the world around them.
Barbie has always aimed to represent the world as children see it and the futures they dream of, and we’re excited to launch our first Barbie doll with autism as part of that commitment,” said Jamie Cygielman, head of Barbie Dolls.
Created with input from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, this Barbie aims to broaden how we think about inclusion, both in toys and in general, ensuring all children feel represented.
Mattel recently launched its first Barbie doll designed to represent autism. The doll includes features like a fidget spinner, a tablet for communication, noise-cancelling headphones, and flexible joints in the arms and wrists to allow for stimming behaviors.
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New autistic Barbie comes with neurodivergent features
The doll displays several characteristics associated with autism, such as a slightly averted gaze, which mirrors the tendency of some autistic individuals to avoid direct eye contact.
This Barbie doll features bendable elbows and wrists, allowing for a range of movements like hand flapping or stimming, which can be used to show feelings and excitement.
Every figure comes with a pink fidget spinner that clips onto your finger, noise-canceling headphones, and a helpful accessory for tablets.
This tablet uses picture-based communication, helping people express themselves every day.
The doll wears a comfortable, loose-fitting purple and white striped dress with short sleeves and a flowing skirt, made to minimize skin contact. She also has purple flat shoes for stability and easy movement.
Cygielman explained that they worked closely with people in the autistic community during the design process, remembering that each person experiences autism in their own unique way and that it isn’t always apparent.
Jolanta Lasota, head of Ambitious about Autism, pointed out that anyone, including a Barbie doll, could be autistic, as autism manifests differently in everyone. However, she stressed the importance of seeing autistic people represented in media and culture.
The Barbie movie isn’t the only recent example of autism representation. The video game Overwatch 2 also features a character, Symmetra, who is portrayed as being on the autism spectrum, a detail the game developers intentionally included in her character design and gameplay.
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2026-01-12 22:19