‘Sesame Street’ proudly introduces first muppet with autism

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Julia muppet Credit: Sesame Workshop

Julia, a friendly muppet with orange hair, a kind smile, and big, green eyes, is going to make her debut on Sesame Street on April 10, 2017.

She is a young girl with autism who isn’t afraid to take on new challenges and to be herself.

Her introductory episode called “Meet Julia,” will introduce fans of the show to this lovable character whom some may already recognize from Sesame Street’s digital story entitled “Sesame Street and Autism: See the Amazing in All Children.”

It can be viewed online and through e-books, short videos, and even an app.

How exactly will Julia be introduced to the rest of the characters, though? Additionally, what do the writers of the show have in mind for her? The answers to these questions, and more, are as follows…

How does Julia meet her new Sesame Street friends? You see, as she already knows Elmo and Abby from the technology-based storybook, she will first be seen with the two of them walking together when they stumble upon Big Bird.

Yvonne Villarreal, a contact reporter for www.latimes.com, writes in an article that, “At first, Julia will be reluctant to shake the big yellow bird’s hand.”

Eventually, though, she warms up to him, and the two become fast friends.

In order to create this delightful new Muppet, though, Jeanette Betancourt recently stated that, “years of consultation with organizations, experts and families within the autism community” have been involved. Betancourt, it should be mentioned, is the senior V.P. for U.S. Social Impact, “a global development management firm” (www.socialimpact.com).

Betancourt also said in an article written on www.columbian.com, “We wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. We’re modeling the way both children and adults can look at autism from a strength-based perspective: finding things that all children share.”

One of the writers of Sesame Street, Christine Ferraro, plans for Julia to be a recurring character on the show. She is excited to see the results of this wonderful new addition, stating to the LA Times, in the article mentioned above, “I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on ‘Sesame Street’ who has autism. I would like her to be just Julia.”