Elmo, Abby and Grover are welcoming a new member to the neighborhood- Julia, a girl with bright orange hair and big green eyes, who also has autism.
Sesame Street and Autism aims to “reduce the stigma of autism” with the introduction of Julia.
Julia offers children a relatable character they can understand, whether they’re living with autism or know someone who is.
“Families with autistic children tend to gravitate toward digital content, which is why we created Julia digitally,” says Sherrie Westin, the executive vice president of global impacts and philanthropy. “We want parents and children to understand that autism isn’t an uncomfortable topic.”
The initiative, created for communities and families with children ages 2 to 5, includes a free downloadable app that incorporates video, digital story cards designed to make daily life tasks easier for families of children with autism and storybook materials for providers, organizations and caregivers.
Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president of U.S. social impact told People magazine: “Children with autism are five times more likely to get bullied. And with one in 68 children having autism, that’s a lot of bullying. Our goal is to bring forth what all children share in common, not their differences. Children with autism share in the joy of playing and loving and being friends and being part of a group.”
Sesame Street is looking to highlight commonalities among children, instead of focusing on their differences.
Both the app and online videos explain what having autism is like from the perspective of a child with autism.
Dr. Betancourt says:
“When we explain from a child’s point of view that there are certain behaviors, such as slapping their hands or making noises, to express excitement or unhappiness, it helps younger children to understand how to interact with their autistic peers. It makes children more comfortable and therefor more inclusive.”
Sesame Street and Autism hopes to educate parents on best practices for everyday stressful situations such as brushing teeth, going to bed and crossing the street.
In the storybooks, Julia explains to her Sesame Street friends how she likes to play a little differently from them.
“If you’re five years old, and see another kid not making eye contact with you, you may think that child doesn’t want to play with you. But that’s not the case,” says Westin. “We want to create greater awareness and empathy.”
Sesame Street is expanding the initiative through social media using #SeeAmazing online to promote awareness.
Here is the “See Amazing” video below:
Do you think the introduction of Julia will be beneficial for all children with autism and children everywhere?
[Featured Image Credit: Marybeth Nelson]