- Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
BOSTON — In a touching moment at the White Cane Awareness Day Celebration on October 18 at the Massachusetts State House, Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh gifted a blind Barbie doll to a young girl attending the event. The presentation took place after Commissioner John Oliveira of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind recognized Walsh, first presenting the doll to her as a gesture of appreciation for her unwavering support of the blind community.
Listen: 2024 White Cane Awareness Day Celebration
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, this is wonderful,” Walsh exclaimed. At Oliveira’s request, she described the doll to the audience: “This is a Barbie doll who is holding a white cane. She looks great - better than me,” she joked. “She’s wearing a purple tutu and a pink top. She’s really not the kind of woman you see in real life. She looks nothing like me, except maybe we both at one point had brown hair.”
Oliveira, smiling, asked Walsh to describe Barbie’s footwear. She responded with a laugh: “She has on very high-heeled shoes that I will never wear. I am wearing sneakers,” she said.
The ceremony took a heartwarming turn when Walsh handed the Barbie to seven-year-old Amyah Walker from Taunton, who attended the celebration with her family. Amyah’s mother, Victoria, shared that her daughter had wanted a blind Barbie, making the surprise gift especially meaningful.
Commissioner Oliveira took the opportunity to explain the significance of the blind Barbie, which was created through a collaboration between toy maker Mattel and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). “There’s a common misconception that women who are blind can’t wear high heels,” Oliveira noted. “Mattel worked closely with AFB and involved many blind individuals in the process to challenge those stereotypes.”
“AFB’s goal is to show the capacities of people who are blind,” Oliveira continued, emphasizing the doll’s broader impact. “A doll carrying a white cane can help children start learning about blindness early on, reducing the need for later education.”
A Collaborative Effort to Promote Inclusion
In July, Mattel introduced the blind Barbie as part of its mission to create more inclusive toys. This initiative aimed to allow children to see themselves represented and to encourage imaginative play that embraces diversity.
Mattel worked closely with the AFB throughout the design process to ensure the doll accurately represented individuals with blindness and low vision. Key features of the blind Barbie include:
- Accessories: The doll comes with a white and red cane with an identifiable marshmallow tip and includes stylish and functional sunglasses. With some blind or low-vision individuals sensitive to light, the lens provides additional eye protection.
- Elbow Articulations: The blind Barbie doll includes elbow articulations to ensure comfortable cane use.
- Textured and Vibrant Fabrics: Barbie conducted testing with blind and low-vision children to ensure that the doll provided an accessible and satisfying play experience for kids with blindness or low vision. With AFB’s guidance, Barbie designed the doll’s fashion to include a satiny pink blouse with a textured ruffle skirt for tactile interest. Additional details include a brightly colored high-contrast hook and loop fasteners for closure on the back of the doll’s top, as well as an elastic skirt waistband to make swapping outfits easier.
- Packaging and Design: Barbie worked with AFB to create accessible packaging for the doll, including the placement and writing of ‘Barbie’ in braille on the package.
- Eye Gaze: The doll is designed with an eye gaze facing slightly up and out to accurately reflect the sometimes-distinct eye gaze of a blind individual.
Eric Bridges, CEO and President of the AFB, commended the collaboration with Mattel, saying, “By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion."
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind continues to be a leading advocate, working to create equal opportunities and expand possibilities for those who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision.
The gifting of the blind Barbie at the Massachusetts State House was more than just a ceremonial gesture, but a powerful statement about inclusion and representation, reminding everyone that toys can be a catalyst for education and understanding from a young age.
