by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
This summer, the toy company Mattel has released the first blind Barbie® Fashionista doll, developed in partnership with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). It was released along with a black Barbie Doll with Down syndrome as part of the global Barbie® Fashionistas line, which features dolls with various skin colors, body types, disabilities, and more. They were “created to allow even more children to find a doll that represents them and inspire all children to tell more stories through play.” Mattel consulted with the AFB on all aspects of the doll’s design to ensure that blind people would be represented appropriately. For example, the doll has a white and red cane with a marshmallow tip, sunglasses, textured clothing, accessible packaging, and a distinct eye gaze. Eric Bridges, President and CEO of the AFB, stated: “It was an honor to collaborate with Barbie on the development of the blind Barbie doll. By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion.” Krista Berger, Senior Vice-President and Global Head of Dolls at Barbie, concurred, saying: “We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging. We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and Black doll with Down syndrome…, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity…. We are delighted to introduce these dolls in partnership with the American Foundation for the Blind and National Down Syndrome Society.” More information can be found in a press release from the AFB. The new doll was also covered by People, Forbes and USA Today. Previously, Mattel released a Helen Keller doll as part of its “Inspiring Women” series, as reported in a previous issue of this Bulletin.
