Mattel unveiled its first autistic Barbie as part of its Fashionista line, working with the Autism Self-Advocacy Network, sparking joy for a local woman.

Mattel’s launch of its first autistic Barbie this week has been met with both celebration and criticism from the autism community. Created in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the doll features accessories and design choices meant to reflect common autistic experiences, from stimming to alternative communication tools.

Autistic Barbie has sparked both joy and unease among autistic adults as Mattel’s new doll lands in stores and online, marking a moment of representation many say they needed as children, and a move others fear risks cementing stereotypes the community has fought to dismantle.

Mattel introduces, 67 years after the original article, Autistic Barbie. “The autistic Barbie doll features elbow and wrist articulation, enabling stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the autistic community use to process sensory information or express excitement,