Psychology Today | 14.01.2026 00:06
On January 11, 2026, Mattel announced the release of Autistic Barbie, a doll with an official autism diagnosis who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate, carries a fidget spinner, dresses in comfortable clothing, and uses noise-canceling headphones to manage her sensory sensitivities. As a psychologist and an autistic adult, I love seeing more representation. Although Autistic Barbie's traits do not perfectly mirror my own, no single doll could ever perfectly capture the experience of an entire community— communities are made up of individuals, not monoliths, after all.
