Mattel have made an autistic Barbie

[IwishIwasacaterpillar]

I find this quite odd. Autism doesn’t have a look.
my child is autistic and I would not have bought them one when they were young

I think as well it depends

Because a lot of the time the 'severely autistic' people associated with autism often have something else that causes profound learning disability

You can promise it for Christmas, but buy it in the January sales, because that doll isn't turning up on time.
My Granddaughter wanted the wheelchair dolls, she has to use a disability buggy because of dyspraxia. She was made up getting the hearing aid doll, she has moderate hearing loss. If she still played with barbies, she'd want this one. I don't see the issue tbh. Children wear their labels with pride these days. They are used to inclusiveness etc. They know what autism can look like.

There is already a pilot Barbie (and a flight attendant Barbie):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187841253841

There is a plane that is pink:

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/fashion-and-dolls/barbie/barbie-dream-plane-with-pilot-doll-playset/p/177651?

Is your point about autism broadly or autistic Barbie specifically? Different with different needs is one thing. Different to the point of no longer functioning due to burnout is quite another.

How about a trans Barbie? Or would that just be an Action Man in a dress?

I suspect it has more to do with the company wanting to look inclusive, than it necessarily being needed. If it helps some children feel represented, that's good obviously, but the stereotyping is potentially problematic.

Why are you rolling your eyes at "Wheelchair Barbie" and "Amputee Barbie"? Isn't it good for kids to see dolls who are like them?

So the years and years of training, the hours and hours of time I spend with each service user and their families, and the time discussing it with the expert multi-disciplinary team is all wasted. Along with all the continued professional development, courses, workshops, and advocacy Im involved with. All pointless. We just need you and your daughter to take a quick squizz at them and all sorted. I'll just quit now.

Its bad enough you think this way, but to support this view around your child - that she as well can 'diagnose' autism, is just so offensive and arrogant on so many levels I just can't even.

Report me for what, speaking the truth?

No ,for being incredibly offensive

Stop.

You are incredibly offensive.

I say this as a professional working with people with autism, a person with autism, and a mother of autistic children.

Just stop.

I have excellent eye contact by the way. It's the years and years of drama training. Dd fakes it by focusing on a certain area of the face.

No, I will not stop. You may have a different view and I will not disparage your lived experience, but do not disparage my lived experience. It's not offensive to say that we can usually spot a fellow autistic person a mile off.

'Our 'Tism radar has never failed us yet. There is a distinct look in the eyes'.

This is an undeniably offensive ablest thing to say.

MN need to remove all your posts immediately.

I agree! A pair of ear defenders and a fidget spinner, don't constitute ASD.

If I was being abelist I would be being abelist to myself. It's a common thing amongst many autistics, we can spot it a mile off.

Stop generalising. Honestly, this thread…

Another article from the Guardian.

A bit torn - representation always good but this feels like Tiktok Autism and ignores the real struggles by suggesting they can be resolved with ear defenders and a fucking fidget spinner.

Of course Mattel are cynical bastards who always jump on the latest bandwagon to make even more money.

No but these are common aids that some autistic people
The spectrum is huge though so its never going to accurately portray everyone with a diagnosis

I’m autistic I do that

I think it might have been a better idea to make this doll without giving it a precise diagnosis. My daughter has ADHD and she wears noise-cancelling headphones at times; I hope this doll isn’t going to contribute to a mindset that noise-cancelling headphones automatically equal autistic.

Go on then, how have you gone about checking that the people you deem autistic are, and that the ones you don't deem autistic aren't?

Because if you haven't verified your disgnoses then they're just guesses that you've decided are right.

Absolute rubbish
Very offensive
Have reported