Julia loves singing and playing games – and she has autism. The muppet character has joined the squad of “Sesame Street.” The popular children’s television show is known for its inclusive approach. The creators of “Sesame Street” announced Sunday that the popular show would introduce a muppet named Julia who has autism.
The green-eyed, red-haired character was developed during years of consultation with families, organizations and experts within the autism community, Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of US Social Impact said. Betancourt also said one in 68 children in the US had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
“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,” she said.
