Overview
- Mattel says the doll was developed with the autistic‑led Autistic Self Advocacy Network over more than 18 months to ensure authentic representation.
- Design details include a side‑facing gaze, movable elbow and wrist joints, noise‑cancelling headphones, a fidget spinner, an AAC tablet, and sensory‑friendly clothing.
- The company positions the release as a way for children to recognize neurodiversity and notes the doll reflects common experiences rather than a single profile of autism.
- The model joins the Fashionistas range that emphasizes broader representation, following a Type‑1 diabetes Barbie introduced about six months earlier.
- Autistic advocate Rafaela Lisbeth Kiene is the German brand ambassador for the launch, and WHO estimates about one in 100 children are on the autism spectrum.