FOCUS Winter 2026: AFB Showcase

Blind Barbie Breaks Down Misconceptions in West Virginia

This past December, AFB was excited to bring the magic of Blind Barbie to young students in Huntington, West Virginia, as AFB visited local schools and donated dolls to students and classrooms ahead of the holiday break.

“This doll isn’t just about inclusion for blind children; it’s a vital tool for sighted children to learn that blindness is simply a normal part of the human experience,” said Haley Linville, AFB’s business services manager, who led the effort to distribute the dolls to area classrooms.

The Huntington schools that received Blind Barbies included Southside Elementary School, St. Joseph’s Preschool, Discovery Tree Montessori, Fifth Avenue Baptist Preschool, and all three campuses of Ridge Kids Academy.

A woman and her daughter holding Blind Barbie's. Both smile while the daughter gives a thumbs up.

The donation of the dolls will help children build a sense of inclusion and awareness through play, a key hallmark of Mattel’s Fashionista Barbie line—something Linville has experienced firsthand since bringing Blind Barbie into her own home.

“Watching my daughter play with her Blind Barbie has been a revelation,” added Linville. “Seeing her incorporate blindness as a natural, regular part of her doll’s life is exactly what we hoped for.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Virginia has the highest prevalence of vision loss in the country. AFB has maintained a strong presence in Huntington for more than 26 years, and this outreach reflects AFB’s ongoing commitment to making a local impact by expanding opportunity for people who are blind or have low vision.