Meet Julia: Sesame Street’s First Character With Autism

Sesame Street Introduces Its First Autistic Character, Julia. The newest autistic muppet will help kids better understand autism, reduce bullying and learn how to communicate with autistic peers.

The lack of understanding can result in discrimination, verbal abuse, just physical violence. Recent studies have shown that children with autism are five times more likely to be bullied than their classmates.

New Sesame Street’s character will spread the knowledge about autism, creating a more tolerant environment for autistic children in modern society.

“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”

“Elmo’s daddy told Elmo that Julia has autism. So she does things a little differently. Sometimes Elmo talks to Julia using fewer words and says the same thing a few times.”

Actually, Julia has been developed as a part of program “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children” to raise autism awareness, love and acceptance.

“Our goal is to bring forth what all children share in common, not their differences,” says senior vice president of U.S. social impact, Dr. Jeanette Betancourt. “Children with autism share in the joy of playing and loving and being friends and being part of a group.”