Leading toy brand and entertainment company Mattel, known as the creators of the Barbie doll line, is set to receive the prestigious Helen Keller Award on April 24 as announced by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB).
The company will be recognized for their global impact toward the inclusion of blind people or those with low vision, following their release of the Blind Barbie doll back in 2024.
The ‘Helen Keller Award’ is bestowed upon individuals and institutions with outstanding contributions to the alleviation of blindness on a worldwide scale. Helen Keller was an American author and educator who was blind and deaf and has since made significant contributions as a humanitarian and disability rights advocate. For over 40 years, Keller served as AFB’s leading ambassador.
AFB President and CEO Eric Bridges shared how the toy company contributed to social development over the years, “For over 80 years, Mattel has stood as a leader in the social development of youth, harnessing the dreams and imagination of children everywhere through the joy of play.” Not only did Mattel excel in producing a line of toys for the sake of enjoyment, they also made sure to use their platform for awareness “With the introduction of their Fashionista line of Barbie dolls, they have not only nurtured positive perceptions of people with disabilities, but they have also empowered millions of children across the globe who now carry a sense of pride into their classroom and on the playground,” Bridges added.
The Barbie Fashionista line was first introduced back in 2009 and was built around the greater purpose of crafting toys for representation as these dolls were made with a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions to tell more stories.
These Barbie fashionistas were not merely made as a toy for aesthetic or enjoyment purposes, the series included Barbie dolls with hearing aids, dolls with vitiligo, dolls in wheelchairs, dolls without hair, and dolls with prosthetic limbs, among others. This series allowed kids of all ages to find a mirror of themselves with these dolls one way or another.
“We know that Barbie is so much more than a doll and that when a child picks up Barbie, it becomes a catalyst for acceptance and the opportunity to imagine their limitless possibilities,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, Mattel.
Back in July 2024, AFB partnered with Mattel to launch the Blind Barbie Fashionista. AFB actively took part in the creation process of the doll as the project advisor. At the same time, Mattel ensured that beyond the physical design of the doll, they meticulously worked on the physical packaging and digital marketing content in such a way that it is accessible for blind and low vision customers. The marketing also included an audio description voiced by a young female voice actor who is also blind in real life.
The intricate details Mattel incorporated for Blind Barbie and the Barbie Fashionista line showed the company’s dedication to fostering inclusivity especially for their young customer demographics.
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