Em Rusciano has shared her strong reaction to the new Barbie doll designed to represent autism, saying it really bothered her.
Mattel recently unveiled a new toy that includes a fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones, and eyes that look slightly to the side.
On Monday, the 46-year-old, who previously worked in radio and is autistic, shared a complicated reaction to the new product. She seemed to have a lot of conflicting emotions about it.
Em shared that she felt deeply upset and conflicted after hearing about the release of the autistic Barbie, saying she needed time to process her emotions and would share her thoughts later.
She added that something about the doll felt dismissive and overly simple, like the noise-cancelling headphones and fidget toys. She wasn’t sure, and decided she’d think about it overnight.
It’s great if you or your children enjoy it! I’m just sharing my personal reaction as an autistic person, and I’m wondering if my discomfort comes from unconscious biases I’ve absorbed over time.
Em then posted a screenshot of a message from Sonny Jane, an autistic advocate, along with her own announcement that she now approves of the new doll.
Many people are criticizing the autistic Barbie, saying it doesn’t accurately represent autism. However, Sonny Jane, a creator who shares lived experiences, points out that for many autistic individuals who require more support, this Barbie is meaningful representation.
She explained that autism doesn’t present the same way in everyone, but for those who need more support, it’s often visible through things like communication devices, noise-canceling headphones, and fidget toys.
It’s especially important to represent autistic people who require more support, as they are often overlooked in discussions and media.
‘Autistic Barbie may not represent you, but it represents someone who needs it.’
Em then commented: ‘Yep, this is where I’ve landed too. It’s not perfect, but it’s something.
‘And if it’s helping any autistic kid or parent, then it’s a good thing.’
The doll was created with help from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a group based in Washington, DC.
This doll is designed to show how autistic people might see, understand, and talk about the world.
The doll has a redesigned face and movable elbows and wrists, allowing for realistic movements like stimming and hand flapping.
As a longtime supporter and observer of the autistic community, I’ve noticed that many people use certain movements – things like hand flapping or rocking – not just randomly, but as a way to manage how they experience the world around them, or to show when they’re really happy or engaged. It’s a really important part of how they communicate and regulate their feelings.
The doll’s eyes are designed to look slightly to the side, mirroring the tendency some autistic individuals have to avoid direct eye contact.
Em received an autism diagnosis in November 2022, following her ADHD diagnosis a year earlier.
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2026-01-13 08:21