- Title: Mattel debuts first-ever blind Barbie, boosting inclusivity
- Date: 23rd July 2024
- Summary: ARLINGTON, VIRGINA, UNITED STATES (July 15, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) CEO OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND, ERIC BRIDGES, SAYING: “We looked at, we looked at the packaging as well. Putting Braille on the packaging, as well as the actual unboxing experience of, you know, taking Barbie out of the box. You know, we, we got with, some, some blind girls to take a look at the unboxing experience. And the unboxing experience initially was a little more challenging. And so, Mattel worked with us to adapt the unboxing experience to have a, a tab that you could pull to make it easier to take Barbie out of the box.”
- Embargoed: 6th August 2024 14:56
- Keywords: barbie blind doll eyes low vision mattel sight toy
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / ARLINGTON, VIRGINA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / ARLINGTON, VIRGINA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: US
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA004103223072024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Barbie has added its first ever blind Barbie doll to its diverse collection.
Mattel collaborated with several organizations dedicated to aiding the blind community to create the toy. Among them, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) played pivotal roles in ensuring that the doll was a true reflection of a blind individual, thus enhancing representation for the blind community.
The foundations provided input on everything from the doll’s outfit, the eye gaze and the company's website, which was made accessible for the blind.
“We wanted her to be able to, to have the white cane in the package. But how do you use a white cane when you bend your arm to use it. And that wasn't necessarily common with other Barbies,” said AFB CEO Eric Bridges.
Lucy Edwards, a blind broadcaster and disability rights advocate, was the first blind individual in the UK to engage with the doll. Emotionally moved, Edwards expressed a heartfelt wish that a blind Barbie had been available during her own childhood.
“I never thought I would live this day where I would be holding a blind Barbie doll. The most popular doll in the world now has a visual impairment. That is incredible to me. That means that we’re getting to a place in the world where we’re accepted and we are represented and to young people, all of the little Lucys out there that are struggling with their identity, we don’t have to any more. We don’t have to feel like we’re not enough,” said Edwards.
Notable characteristics include a cane with a tactile marshmallow tip, sunglasses, textured and vibrant fabrics for sensory engagement, practical clothing fastenings, and articulated elbow joints for realistic cane use. The doll's design also takes into account the unique eye gaze often associated with blindness, displaying an upward and outward gaze for added authenticity.
For Brides, the doll is not only a chance to inspire the visually impaired community, but also inform sighted individuals.
“The blind community knows a lot about the sighted community, but the sighted community doesn't know a lot about the blind and low vision community, right… it can be educational and provide some pretty unique awareness.”
This new addition follows a series of inclusive dolls, such as the hearing loss Barbie, Down’s syndrome Barbie, and Barbie in a wheelchair, each designed to reflect and honor the diversity of the human experience.
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