By: Summer Lin

On 23 July 2024, the company that makes Barbie dolls, Mattel, partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind in the US and the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK to create anew blind Barbie doll. This new doll is already being sold on the shelves of toy stores today. This will make playing with toys more interesting and fun for children with low or no vision.

This Barbie was made so that it looks more like a blind person as well. It has a cane and dark glasses. It also comes in a box with braille, a language made of raised dots that blind people can feel to read things to help the blind person feel the Barbie the doll wears textured clothing. The Barbie’s eyes will look slightly up and out to mimic a blind person’s gaze. This doll was made to help recognize that not all people can see well.

Debbie Miller is the Director of Customer Experience and Engagement at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

“It’s an acknowledgment that not everyone can see well, which means a lot to the blind and partially sighted community… helping children and adults with sight loss feel like they belong and are recognised,” Miller said.

Lucy Edwards lost her eyesight when she was 17, and she was embarrassed of her cane and blindness, but knowing that there was a blind Barbie created helped her accept her blindness.

“I was embarrassed by my cane – but knowing Barbie had a cane would have made me feel so differently about mine and helped me feel less alone on my journey to accept and embrace my blindness.” Edwards said.

The Barbie doll helped Edwards gainconfidence about her blindness and helped her embrace the very thing she was afraid of.

The new Barbie toy has many features like textured clothing and braille on its box to help those with low or no vision. It can also help future children who are insecure about their blindness discover confidence. This new Barbie toy is going to help future generations to feel more confident about their blindness.