By: Sarine Rong

This week, a new edition of Mattel’s collection will be added to the top shelves in your local toy store. Say hello to the blind Barbie doll, a vision-impaired doll made to represent partially-sighted people across the globe. Mattel, the company that produces Barbie dolls, worked closely with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to create this masterpiece.

“As we wrap up Disability Pride month, we believe this is an excellent way to make children worldwide feel included, regardless of their abilities,” Tony Stephens of the AFB told CBS News.

The doll’s fashions include textured clothing so low-sighted children can feel and interact with the outfit. Accessories include a white-and-red cane with an identifiable tip and stylish sunglasses. The doll also reflects the unique gaze of a vision-impaired individual, with eyes facing slightly up and outwards.

“As a teenager, I felt isolated by losing my eyesight and not seeing role models like me,” Lucy Edwards, a broadcaster and disability activist from Birmingham told CBS News.

Lucy, who lost her eyesight due to a rare genetic disease named Incontinentia Pigmenti, says that knowing she wasn’t alone on her journey meant everything to her.

“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.”
Barbie is not only a doll but also a role model that ensures that all individuals matter.