Mattel’s Autistic Barbie Arrives Amid Year of Harmful Autism Narratives

In January, toymaker Mattel made a significant step toward inclusion with the release of the first-ever autistic Barbie doll. Wearing a loose purple dress and headphones, with slightly averted eyes and holding a communication tablet and fidget spinner, the doll represents some of the different ways autistic people experience the world.

Designed with input from autistic individuals, this new Barbie invites more children—and adults—to see parts of themselves reflected in the iconic toy line. The significance extends beyond playtime, as dolls and toys shape how we understand ourselves and others through the stories they help us tell.

This positive representation stands in stark contrast to the harmful narratives about autism that emerged from senior U.S. government officials throughout 2025.

In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report estimating that approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States receive an autism diagnosis by age 8—a significant increase from the 1 in 150 figure reported in 2000. Most researchers attribute this rise to improved awareness, more frequent screenings, and evolving diagnostic criteria.

However, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used these statistics to paint a distressing picture during a news briefing, describing rising autism rates as an “alarming epidemic” that “tears families apart.” Kennedy went further, claiming that autistic children “will never pay taxes, never hold a job, never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem, never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”

“Pity and dehumanization are very closely linked,” explains Noor Pervez, a community engagement manager at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “Seeing autistic people’s lives as something to be afraid of ignores the root of what makes being autistic difficult for a lot of people—which is ableism.”

The administration’s problematic messaging continued in September when Kennedy and President Donald Trump claimed—without scientific evidence—that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, causes autism. This assertion contradicts a careful assessment published in January in The Lancet: Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, which found no association between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.

At the same briefing, officials announced that leucovorin, a medication used to counteract side effects of cancer treatments, could treat autism. While some small studies suggest potential benefits, larger well-designed studies are lacking. Despite the preliminary nature of this research, Trump declared, “We’re going to save a lot of children from a tough life, a really tough life. We’re going to save a lot of parents from a tough life.”

Perhaps most concerning was the administration’s revival of the thoroughly debunked claim linking vaccines to autism. On November 20, the official CDC webpage on autism and vaccines was altered to state, “The claim, ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim…” This change directly contradicts numerous rigorous scientific studies that have found no connection.

Alison Singer, cofounder and president of the Autism Science Foundation, highlighted the damage this framing causes. “The idea that vaccines cause autism is not only scientifically false, but it’s also profoundly stigmatizing to autistic people and to their families,” she said. “It frames autism as being caused by parental action as if autism is a preventable injury resulting from a choice that parents make. It positions autistic people as victims of damage, which undermines the dignity of our children. It implies that autistic lives are less valuable.”

A more hopeful and scientifically sound perspective emerged at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego in November. Experts discussed efforts to improve autism diagnosis in historically overlooked populations, including girls, adults, and people of color. Developmental psychologist Jed Elison from the University of Minnesota emphasized the importance of early intervention: “Because this is a time period of such great plasticity, it is also a time period of opportunity to help these kids get on the right track.”

UCLA behavioral child neurologist Shafali Jeste reminded attendees not to overlook joy in discussions about autism. “Yes, there are challenges, there’s no question,” she acknowledged. “But those challenges aren’t the whole story. [These children] also do bring a tremendous amount of joy. They teach people to be compassionate. They raise awareness about differences.”

As the contrast between Mattel’s inclusive Barbie and the government’s harmful rhetoric demonstrates, stories have power. They can perpetuate damaging stereotypes or foster understanding and acceptance. Ultimately, the more we understand about what’s possible for people with autism, the wider the world becomes for everyone.