New autistic Barbie may help some children feel more included and valued, experts say

I think its dope that they made this doll! Some ppl might be all like its just a toy but its actually helping kids feel more accepted and less stigmatized . The headphones and tablet thingy might seem random at first but trust me its all about representation and making autistic kids feel seen . Plus, ASAN was involved so its not like they just threw somethin together . I mean sure some ppl might not be totally sold on it but its still a step in the right direction .

omg i have 2 younger cousins w/ autism & im so stoked about this new barbie!!! its like mattel finally got it right, you know? the noise-canceling headphones r honestly super relatable for me too, lol my anxiety gets super bad when theres loud music or crowds & the fact that they put that in the doll is like, major win i mean dont get me wrong, some ppl might say its not perfect but im all about progress, u feel?

I'm not sure if this new Autistic Barbie thingy is gonna be a game changer or just another marketing gimmick . On one hand, I think it's awesome that Mattel is trying to break down stigmas and promote acceptance – especially with kids who are already feeling like they don't quite fit in . The fact that the doll has those noise-canceling headphones and flexible joints is pretty cool, and it's a great way to show autistic individuals that their experiences are being represented .

On the other hand, I can see why some people might be skeptical – does this really capture what it's like to be autistic? I mean, not everyone on the spectrum uses headphones or tablets in the same way, right? And some folks might just feel like Mattel is patronizing them with these " aids" . But overall, I think it's a step in the right direction and maybe even inspires some important conversations about autism acceptance .

What do you guys think? Are we gonna see more inclusive toys on the market now that this one's out?

i think its kinda cool that mattel is trying to be more inclusive, but idk about the headphones and tablets - might come across as too gimmicky? like, dont get me wrong, those things can be super helpful for some ppl on the spectrum, but not everyone uses them in the same way. maybe they coulda gone for something more subtle?

anyway, its def great that mattel is working with asan to make this doll more authentic - thats what matters most. and i think its awesome that ppl are having different reactions to it, both positive and negative. that just shows how much we still dont understand about autism... but at least were trying, right?

I think its kinda cool that they're trying to make dolls more inclusive... my cousin has autism and she loves playing with her tablet but the doll's got some features that might be a bit too much for some people like, I get why they wanted to include noise-canceling headphones but maybe it's just too much? still, its good that they're trying to make kids feel more accepted and stuff

I'm curious about this new Barbie doll, but I need more info . Is it just a marketing ploy or actually changing lives? Some people think it's cool that Mattel is trying to be more inclusive, but what about the autistic community saying it doesn't accurately represent their experiences? I'd love to see some data on how this doll is being received by kids and adults with autism before I give my two cents .