The toy aisle just got more . A Barbie doll that represents people with Down syndrome is out now!
Each cell in your body has a nucleus. And the nucleus usually has 23 pairs of . People with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. The condition can cause someone to have poor balance. A person with Down syndrome may also have difficulty learning new tasks. There are some common physical of Down syndrome too. One is weak muscle tone. Another is an upward slant to the eyes.
The new Barbie has many of these features. For example, the doll is short. Its face is rounder. And it has smaller ears. Its eyes are slanted up. The doll’s hands even include a line across the palm. That’s common in people with Down syndrome.
The Barbie wears orthotics around its ankles. Some children with Down syndrome use braces like these. They support their feet. The doll wears a yellow and blue dress. These are the colors of Down syndrome awareness.
Even the Barbie’s necklace is important. It has three arrows. This symbolizes the three copies of chromosome 21.
Lisa McKnight leads Barbie. She said she wants “all children to see themselves in Barbie.” McKnight added: “Doll play can build .”
Barbie teamed up with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). It wanted to make sure the toy was just right. The NDSS fights for the rights of people with Down syndrome. It also teaches about the condition. Experts with NDSS helped with the Barbie’s design.
Kandi Pickard is the president of NDSS. “It was an honor working with Barbie,” she said. “This means so much for our community, who can play with a doll that looks like them,” the leader added. “We should never underestimate representation.” Pickard called the Barbie “a step forward for inclusion.”
Updated April 26, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Alexa Tirapelli
