By: Megan Wei
On July 23, 2024, Mattel, the company that manufactures Barbie dolls, partnered with the American Foundation of Blind People (AFB) in the United States, and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to produce a new Barbie Doll who is blind. This is the first ever blind Barbie which will draw attention to kids who have poor eyesight or are also blind. Blind Barbie will be a reminder to blind kids that lots of other people may also be blind and that they shouldn’t feel bad about their condition.
This Barbie doll is designed for all young audiences. She has textured clothing for blind kids to be able to feel her clothes, and she has features to reflect some blind people’s traits. It isn’t just her design in clothes that makes her notable, blind Barbie’s doll box is also designed by perspective. It has Barbie spelled in Braille, which is a writing system blind people use to read; a series of raised dots for blind people to feel by touch.
Lucy Edwards, who is a broadcaster and disability activist from Birmingham Alabama, is making efforts to raise more awareness of sight loss and blindness. She lost her sight when she was only 17 years old, and as a teenager, felt isolated from not seeing more people like her. “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,” Lucy says. She feels that blind Barbie can make a difference and that it means everything to her.
Additionally, Debbie Miller, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said “It’s an acknowledgment that not everyone can see well, which means a lot to the blind and partially sighted community.”In the future, Mattel hopes that they can make more barbies that are inclusive for children with disabilities. Mattel strives to make Barbies fun for all kids to play with and to not feel segregated from other kids.
UNICEF, based in New York, is a prominent United Nations agency dedicated to humanitarian and developmental aid for children across the globe. Operating in 192 countries and territories, UNICEF is renowned for its extensive efforts to support children in need. The organization is equally committed to advocating for disabled children, working to ensure they feel included and valued in every community.