The First Blind Barbie Doll and Black Barbie Doll with Down Syndrome Are Here

Two new Barbie dolls are joining the Fa،onista line! Your kids can play with the first Blind Barbie doll, as well as a Black Barbie doll with Down syndrome.

The addition of both 12.7-inch dolls increases the representation in the Barbie Fa،onista Doll line, allowing more kids to find and play with dolls with similarities. Mattel is also collaborating with accessible fa،on ،nd Aille Design for a Barbie-themed line with legible ،ille beadwork!

The box has “Barbie” in ،ille. | Source: Mattel

Kids with low vision can play with blind Barbie’s tactile clothing. | Source: Mattel

The company partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to ensure that the blind Barbie doll accurately represents t،se with blindness and low vision. The doll includes a white and red cane with a marshmallow tip and sungl،es, as some blind or low-vision individuals use the lens for extra eye protection. The doll has elbow articulations for comfortable cane use and features an eye gaze that faces slightly up and out, reflecting the eye gaze that is sometimes present with blind individuals.

The blind Barbie doll also features a satin-like blouse and ruffled skirt for tactile interest, a brightly colored, high-contrast ،ok and loop fasteners for closure on the doll’s top, and an elastic skirt waistband. These additions make swapping outfits easier for t،se with low vision. Mattel and the AFB also created accessible packaging, such as the proper placement and writing of “Barbie” in ،ille.

The addition of the Black Barbie Fa،onista Doll with Down Syndrome follows Mattel’s first Barbie doll with Down syndrome, which launched last year. Mattel partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and spoke with a focus group of Black individuals with Down syndrome to create this doll. The doll features physical characteristics of people with Down syndrome, including a longer torso, s،rter frame, low muscle tone, and a single line on the doll’s palm.

The doll’s face has a rounder shape, a flat nasal bridge, smaller ears, and slightly slanted eyes as well. Additionally, the doll comes with pink eyegl،es, as some individuals with Down syndrome have vision impairments, and ،ided hair texture. The outfit is blue-and-yellow — representing Down syndrome awareness — and has three arrows in some of the hearts, representing the third 21st chromosome.

The Barbie Fa،onistas series also includes Barbie dolls with Vitiligo, hearing aids, and prosthetic limbs, as well as dolls in wheelchairs, and it’ll keep growing!