Mattel, the toy company behind the iconic Barbie doll, has taken a significant step towards inclusivity by introducing its first visually-impaired Barbie. The new doll features a white and red cane, sunglasses for eye protection, and an eye gaze designed to face slightly upward and outward. This innovative design aims to reflect the experiences of individuals with visual impairments, making the doll more relatable and representative.
The announcement was made in a press release by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), which partnered with Mattel on the project. Mattel went above and beyond to ensure the doll’s accessibility and accuracy, collaborating with organizations like AFB and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to get feedback and guidance. The doll’s clothing features tactile fabrics, such as a satiny blouse and a textured ruffle skirt, with brightly colored hook fasteners for easier swapping. The packaging even includes braille writing, further enhancing accessibility.
Debbie Miller, director of customer advice and support at the RNIB, expressed her enthusiasm about the new Barbie, emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusivity in play. “Barbie is all about joy – about discovering and understanding the world through play – and it’s wonderful to think that children with a vision impairment can now play with a Barbie that looks like them,” she said.
This move by Mattel comes at a time when the company has been actively working to make its dolls more diverse and inclusive. In 2016, Mattel began creating more inclusive Barbies in response to declining sales and criticism regarding traditional beauty standards. The Barbie Fashionistas line, introduced in 2019, features dolls with prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and vitiligo, showcasing a wider range of body types and disabilities.
Activist Lucy Edwards, an ambassador for the new Barbie, shared her excitement on Instagram, expressing her childhood dream of seeing a visually-impaired Barbie. “To be accepted so much that the most popular doll in the world now has a visual impairment and looks like me. I still can’t believe I’m typing this but blind Barbie is here,” she shared. The launch of the visually-impaired Barbie signifies a positive step towards promoting inclusivity and representation, allowing children with visual impairments to see themselves reflected in their toys and feel valued and understood.
