Barely six months after releasing its Barbie with Type 1 diabetes, Mattel introduced its first Barbie with autism. The doll was made in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and is available nationwide today.

For years, we've thought of autism as lying on a spectrum, but emerging evidence suggests that it comes in several distinct types. The implications for how we support autistic people could be profound

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.

The American toy production company launched the Barbie this week in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The doll features pink noise-canceling headphones, a communication tablet, a fidget spinner, sensory-sensitive fashion, and other sensory-related capabilities.

Admittedly, the spectrum is wide, and those with extreme forms of autism and their caregivers often contend with incredibly difficult challenges daily. Still, even in severe cases, those with ASD don’t fit under one umbrella.