Anastasia Tsilikas

The autistic Barbie was developed with ASAN, an advocacy organization run by and for autistic people.

The Barbie has articulated elbows and wrists so the doll can make the type of gestures that some autistic people use.

Its clothes are sensory sensitive and the doll's eyes gaze slightly off-center, reflecting how some autistic people avoid direct eye contact.

This newest Barbie joins a lineup of dolls intended to help kids see themselves and their lived experiences in their toys.

Other dolls in the lineup include Barbies with Down syndrome, type 1 diabetes, and vitiligo, and ones with prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs.

Anastasia Tsilikas, NPR News, New York.