The first blind Barbie and a black Barbie with Down syndrome are here

Two new Barbie dolls are coming to the Fashionista Collection! Your child can play with the first blind Barbie, as well as a black Barbie with Down syndrome.

The addition of these two 12.7-inch dolls increases the representativeness of the Barbie Fashionista doll series, allowing more children to find and play with similar dolls. Mattel has also partnered with approachable fashion brand Aille Design to launch a Barbie-themed collection with clear braille beads!

The box has the words “Barbie” written on it. | Source: Mattel

Children with low vision can play with Blind Barbie’s tactile costume. | Source: Mattel

The company partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to ensure that Blind Barbie accurately represents people who are blind and have low vision. The doll includes a white and red cane with a marshmallow tip and sunglasses, as some people who are blind or have low vision use lenses for extra eye protection. The doll features elbow joints to comfortably use a cane, and the eyes are oriented slightly upward and outward, reflecting the gaze sometimes seen in blind people.

Blind Barbie also comes with a satin-like blouse and frilly skirt for added tactile interest, a colorful, high-contrast hook and loop fastener to close the top of the doll, and an elastic skirt waistband. These additional features make it easier for people with low vision to change clothing. Mattel and AFB have also created accessible packaging, such as correct placement and “Barbie” written in Braille.

Following last year’s launch of the first Barbie doll with Down syndrome, a black Down syndrome fashion Barbie has been launched. Mattel worked with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and spoke with focus groups of Black people with Down syndrome to create the doll. The doll has the physical characteristics of someone with Down syndrome, including a longer torso, shorter frame, lower muscle tone and a line on the doll’s palm.

The doll has a rounder face, a flat nose, smaller ears, and slightly slanted eyes. Additionally, the doll comes with pink glasses, as some people with Down syndrome have visual impairments, and has braided hair texture. The suit is blue and yellow—representing Down syndrome awareness—and has three arrows on some of the hearts, representing the third chromosome, chromosome 21.

The Barbie Fashionista line also includes Barbie dolls with vitiligo, hearing aids, prosthetics, a Barbie doll in a wheelchair, and more to come!