The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which features diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities such as type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness.

Toymaker Mattel has released a Barbie with autism, complete with pink noise-cancelling headphones and a clip-on fidget spinner to reflect her sensory needs.

The toy includes an eye gaze slightly to the side, to represent the way some autistic people might avoid direct eye contact

New autistic Barbie doll welcomed as a step towards a more "authentic, joyful" representation for neurodivergent children

Barely six months after releasing its Barbie with Type 1 diabetes, Mattel introduced its first Barbie with autism. The doll was made in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and is available nationwide today.

The launch of Mattel's first autistic Barbie doll has been welcomed by campaigners as a step towards more 'authentic, joyful' representation