In January 2026, Mattel launched its first autistic Barbie doll as part of the Fashionistas collection.
This doll was developed over more than 18 months in partnership with ASAN, a nonprofit organization led by and for autistic individuals that advocates for disability rights. It features an inclusive range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and medical conditions.
Collaborating closely with ASAN, the Barbie design team made deliberate choices to authentically reflect some experiences common among people on the autism spectrum. Its features and accessories include:
*Articulated joints which allows the doll elbow and wrist movements to enable stimming, hand-flapping, and other gestures used by some autistic people to process sensory input or express enthusiasm.
*Eye gaze which is designed with a slight side glance, representing how some individuals may avoid direct eye contact.
The accessories includes a pink finger clip fidget spinner that spins, noise-canceling headphones, and a communication tablet.
The doll wears a loose-fitting purple pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt made from lighter fabric to minimize skin contact. Purple flat shoes offer stability and ease of movement.
To mark the launch, Barbie partnered with advocates from the autistic community, including mother-daughter duo Precious and Mikko Mirage, autism advocate and entrepreneur Madison Marilla, and autistic fashion designer and artist Aarushi Pratap. Together, they produced a heartfelt video sharing their personal experiences with autism and their excited reactions to seeing the doll for the first time.
“As proud members of the autistic community, our ASAN team was thrilled to help create the first-ever autistic Barbie doll. It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is. 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.” – Colin Killick, Executive Director, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
