Developed over more than 18 months, the doll was created (ASAN), a nonprofit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people. The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas line, which features the brand’s “diverse range of skin tones,

Mattel spent 18 months working with an advocacy organization to develop the doll, which includes noise-canceling headphones and a fidget spinner.

Academics at the University of Leeds School of Dentistry, who designed the website, said because children with autism could find brushing their teeth a distressing experience they were more likely to need dental treatment in hospital.

Mattel, Inc. unveiled today its first-ever autistic Barbie doll created with guidance from the autistic community

The new Barbie also has eyes that look slightly to the side, a detail meant to reflect how some people with autism avoid direct eye contact. Her purple dress is loose and soft, recognizing that certain fabrics can be uncomfortable for people with sensory sensitivities.

The nonprofit CM Performing Arts Center, in Oakdale, is launching a new program that uses theater to help children with autism build communication skills.

Parents of autistic children say that one of the most stressful behaviors they have to contend with is their child wandering off alone — so much so that it prevents families from engaging in activities outside the home — and half of parents with ...

Many autistic people face challenges in their daily life while navigating a world made for neurotypical people.