12/01/2026
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Congratulations to five-year-old Penelope from
Colchester who had a huge role to play in the release of the very-first autistic Barbie doll, appearing in marketing videos and materials.
The toy has ear defenders, loose-fitting clothing, a fidget spinner, a tablet loaded with communication apps, and flexible joints to the doll’s owner can easily simulate the act of stimming. The eyes also look slightly to the side, as opposed to straight at the user.
Her proud mum Tonya told the BBC:
"She uses ear defenders, so to see that on a doll really made her feel special.
"During research, they did the video reveal and she had a massive smile on her face.
"Until now there was just nothing out there to represent what autistic children experience.
"It's been an overwhelmingly positive experience for Penelope – and she just loves looking at it."