{"id":289972,"date":"2023-04-26T16:37:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T21:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=289972"},"modified":"2023-05-01T19:16:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T00:16:17","slug":"first-ever-barbie-syndrome-introduced-mattel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/first-ever-barbie-syndrome-introduced-mattel\/","title":{"rendered":"First ever Barbie with Down syndrome introduced by Mattel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Barbie fans and disability rights groups alike are celebrating a new addition to Mattel’s line of inclusive Barbies: the first ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

Partnering with<\/a> the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), Mattel created the doll for Barbie’s Fashionistas line. “Barbie Fashionistas celebrate diversity and offer endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion exploration,” the website reads. “With this inclusive range of dolls, kids can see how fun it is to express personality through style!”<\/p>\n

The doll with Down syndrome comes with a blue-and-yellow butterfly-patterned dress, a pink necklace with three arrows, and pink ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) which match her outfit. She also comes with white sneakers, outfitted with a zipper detail so they can easily come on and off. The doll also has a shorter frame and longer torso, almond-shaped eyes, a flat nasal bridge, small ears, and even a single line across the palm \u2014 all common physical characteristics of Down syndrome. NDSS also had a medical professional help review the doll for the most accuracy possible.<\/p>\n

Previous additions to the Fashionistas line include dolls with vitiligo, limb differences, and hearing aids, as well as a doll without hair and a doll that uses a wheelchair.<\/p>\n