Commentary: Mattel’s autistic Barbie matters more than you think

Commentary: Mattel’s autistic Barbie matters more than you think

When Mattel introduced its new Barbie with autism last month, it did something deceptively simple and quietly powerful: It reflected the real world back to children. For decades, Barbie has been both celebrated and debated. But some things about her have never changed: She is a master at reinvention, and she is everywhere. Barbie is more than a novelty plaything — she’s the doll that kids spot in the toy aisle, beg to buy, and bring back home to…