Overview
- The prototype features an angled eye gaze, articulated elbows and wrists for stimming, noise‑cancelling headphones, a tablet for augmentative communication, and a fidget spinner.
- This release extends Mattel’s inclusive Barbie line that already includes models representing Down syndrome, blindness, vitiligo, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, and type 1 diabetes.
- Mattel said it will donate 1,000 dolls to U.S. pediatric hospitals that provide autism services.
- Early responses include praise from autistic individuals and advocates for potential awareness benefits, alongside criticism from commentators who see a market-driven move.
- Coverage notes autism’s prevalence in the United States at about 1 in 31 children, underscoring calls for better representation.