On January 11, 2026, Mattel announced the release of Autistic Barbie, a doll with an official autism diagnosis who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate, carries a fidget spinner, dresses in comfortable clothing, and uses noise-canceling headphones to manage her sensory sensitivities. As a psychologist and an autistic adult, I love seeing more representation. Although Autistic Barbie's traits do not perfectly mirror my own, no single doll could ever perfectly capture the........

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