According to the Toy Association, 63% of Millennial parents seek toys that promote mental and social health, leading to a rise in inclusive toys. Following the trend, Mattel launched a Barbie with Autism, garnering mixed reactions.
According to a press release shared on Matell’s website, the doll, unveiled in mid-January, is a part of the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which features a diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities. The Autism barbie specifically comes with shifted eye gaze, noise-cancelling headphones, a fidget spinner, and a pink tablet symbol-based Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Additionally, the barbie features elbow and wrist articulation which enables stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the Autistic community use to process sensory information or express excitement, a pink tablet and sensory-sensitive clothes.
Matell worked with the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), a non-profit led by members of the Autism community to advocate for the rights of Autistic people, for 18 months to design the doll.
“The doll helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie,” explained Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls per Matell’s press release.
The Autism barbie has brought about both positive and negative reactions among members of the Autistic community as well as their allies.
Reddit’s r/autism thread shows the polarizing opinions about the doll.
One Redditor expressed: “I think she’s amazing as an autistic girl who loves dolls; I love her.”
The redditor went on to explain that many individuals in the autistic community who are passionate about dolls voiced their dissatisfaction with the doll, emphasizing that autism is defined by one’s identity, not their appearance.
The discussion generated a wealth of responses, with most participants agreeing on the importance of representation.
Another user remarked, “I’m not sure what the issue is here. While Autism doesn’t have a specific ‘look,’ that’s not the purpose of the doll. The goal is to create items that an Autistic child can relate to…”
Additionally, another commenter shared, “I appreciate this! It’s wonderful to see representation of Autistic girls and women.”
In response to the critique that “being Autistic is not about appearance,” one reddit user said: “I genuinely like it. To me, it doesn’t suggest that ‘autism is about how you look.’ I see it as just a Barbie equipped with the necessary tools, similar to how a career Barbie is designed with what she needs, you know?”
Well-known advocates in the Autistic community have shared very polarizing opinions of the Barbie as well.
“It is so important for young Autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is. As proud members of the Autistic community, our ASAN team was thrilled to help create the first-ever Autistic Barbie doll,” said Colin Killick, Executive Director or ASAN per Mattel’s press release.
“This is not a story about a doll. This is about how Autism has been rebranded, monetized, and flattened into something safe for public consumption while the people with the highest needs remain excluded from public life, public policy, and public concern,” said Jackie Kancir, Executive Director of the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), a national nonprofit that advocates for individuals with severe autism on their families, per a blog post on the council’s website.
The introduction of the Autism Barbie marks a key moment in toy inclusivity, sparking discussions about representation. Some view it as a meaningful addition, while others worry about oversimplification.
Despite mixed reactions, this highlights a shift toward celebrating neurodiversity. Toys like Autism Barbie are crucial for raising awareness and fostering acceptance early on.
The conversation around Autism Barbie underscores its impact, encouraging engagement with representation complexities. Whether seen as progress or a missed chance, the doll has prompted important conversations toward a more inclusive society.