A Barbie Representing the Blind Community

Of late, the company behind the iconic doll known around the world as Barbie has been releasing a “Inspiring Women” line of dolls. The lineup includes: Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Maya Angelou, Billie Jean King, Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Nightingale, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Katherine Johnson, Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, and Sally Ride.

The list of Inspiring Women dolls would not be complete without a Barbie representing a member of the blind community. Who better to make her debut than Helen Keller? Keller was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was also a renowned author, speaker, educator, and disability advocate. Mattel worked closely with the National Federation of the Blind to ensure that the doll and its props are authentic and accessible to the blind/low-vision community.

"We are excited to welcome disability rights advocate, author and educator Helen Keller to our expanding Inspiring Women collection as Barbie continues to highlight strong female role models," said Lisa McKnight, Mattel's senior vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls. "Representation comes in all forms and we recognize that the blind and low vision community is often overlooked, with their stories going untold. We hope that by introducing children to Helen Keller's story of perseverance and determination, they will be inspired to dream bigger than ever before."

Please reach out to SDCB to learn more about our vision rehabilitation programs and services.

“Mattel Unveils Helen Keller Doll — the Newest Addition to Barbie's Inspiring Women Series”