Developed over more than 18 months, the doll was created in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a nonprofit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people. The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas line,

Barbie is launching its first autistic doll in an effort to represent how individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience the world around them, USA TODAY can exclusively reveal.

Mattel's autistic Barbie, part of the Fashionistas collection, has sparked debate on representation in kids toys.

The doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which features diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities such as type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness.