Mattel Inc. announced the launch of its first-ever Barbie doll designed to represent the autistic community, a new addition to its Barbie Fashionista line.
The company said it worked closely with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a national disability rights nonprofit organization, to design the doll.
The Barbie has articulated wrists and elbows to allow for stimming, hand flapping and other gestures used by some autistic individuals to process information and express themselves. It was also designed with an averted eye gaze, reflecting the experience of some who may avoid eye contact.
Mattel said the doll’s outfit was designed with sensory needs in mind. It includes a loose-fitting dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt for less fabric-to-skin contact, along with purple flat-soled shoes to help with stability and easier movement.
The doll also comes with accessories meant to reflect common sensory and communication tools, like a fidget spinner, pink headphones to block out background noise, and a pink tablet with augmentative and alternative communication apps on screen used by some in the autistic community.
“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 Jamie Cygielman, global head of dolls for Mattel in a statement.
Madison Marilla, an autism advocate and creative entrepreneur, shared, “Dolls have always brought me comfort, stability and joy. I’ve been collecting Barbie dolls since I was 4 years old, and now this autistic Barbie will be one of my favorites.”
ASAN Executive Director Colin Killick emphasized the partnership’s impact on ensuring the doll authentically represented the autistic community.
“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 honored 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,” Killick said.
The Barbie Fashionista line, introduced in 2020, focuses on representing diversity through skin tones, hair textures, body types, and several medical conditions and disabilities. It includes dolls with a prosthetic leg, hearing aids, vitiligo and hair loss, as well as tall, petite and curvy body types and several hair types and skin colors, as previously reported by Deseret News.
The first Barbie with Down syndrome was introduced to the line in 2023 and the first Barbie with Type 1 diabetes last summer, as previously reported by Deseret News.
Mattel said it plans to donate over 1,000 of the new autistic Barbie dolls to pediatric hospitals that give specialized care to children on the autism spectrum.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in 2025 sharing that about 1 in 31 children 8 years old has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with the condition being three times more common in boys. The CDC report also detailed that about 1 in 16 children (17%) aged 3-17 years have been diagnosed with a developmental disability.