Mattel launches Barbie for visually impaired people. It comes with cane, braille packaging

Barbie, introduced by Mattel in 1959, has been a beloved companion to millions of children across the world. The iconic doll’s creator has now taken a significant step towards inclusivity by introducing its first-ever blind Barbie doll that comes in braille packaging. “In partnership with AFB, Barbie proudly introduces the first Blind Barbie Fashionista doll, developed to authentically represent blind and low-vision individuals. Textured fabrics enhance the sensory experience, making fashion elements more accessible with easy-to-open Braille packaging and elbow articulation for comfortable cane use, facilitating accessibility to show that we are all Barbie,” wrote the company in an Instagram post. Take a look at the first-ever blind Barbie doll below: Eric Bridges, CEO and President of AFB, praised the collaboration, stating, “It was an honour to collaborate with Barbie on the development of the blind Barbie doll.” He added, “By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion.” “We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging,” Krista Berger, the senior vice president of Barbie, said in a news release.