I Bought the Autism Barbie

I bought an autism Barbie because I wanted to see how they handled autism.

The doll comes with headphones, a fidget, and a communication tablet. These are items that a person with autism might carry. Headphones are useful to block out noise that can be painful for an autistic person to hear. Fidgets can be soothing with repetitive motion. A communication device is a great tool for anyone, not just people with autism, who has difficulty with verbal communication.

Unfortunately, when I examined the package, the only mention of autism was an organization, ASAN - Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Apparently, they helped develop the Barbie. To me, though, without clearly identifying the Barbie as having autism or giving any information about autism, the message of the doll is lost.

If I were not so closely associated with autism, I would have no idea what the point of the objects the doll had were. Maybe they were items that a teenager would have nowadays with technology. Kids wear headphones for many reasons. Fidgets are popular for many reasons. Tablets are everywhere - how would anyone outside the autism community recognize that it was a communication device.

If this doll was intended for autism awareness, in my opinion, it failed. There is no clear identification that the doll is meant to have autism and no information about what autism is. It's just another Barbie. Only a child with autism would relate to it. And not every child with autism would relate to it.

My daughter has autism. She does not like headphones. We are still trying to get her to use a communication device and she is 22. She does, however, like fidgets and finds them comforting.

I have autism. I don't use headphones. I have no use for a communication device since I am fully verbal. I am fond of fidgets (I also have ADHD and fidgets are big in that community as well).

There is a niche for this doll among autistic girls who can relate to the items associated with the doll and can recognize that the doll is autistic like they are. Otherwise, I don't think it communicates much to the neurotypical world that is largely unfamiliar with autism.

I am glad that Mattel made an attempt at reaching out to the autism community. However, I do think they could have done more to provide for autism awareness by providing information about autism in the packaging.