Tagged: Autism Awareness

“Sesame Street” introduce the newest Muppet, Julia. “Sesame Street” introduce the newest Muppet, Julia.

 

During this month of April which makes National Autism Awareness Month. Radio Free Phoenix will be showcasing those making a difference in their area to help with a diagnosis for autism and its spectrum disorders.

according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disorders that can cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges,

and those in the spectrum of autism can range from severely challenged to being highly gifted.

As of 2016, about 1 in every 68 school-aged children has autism. Between 2000 and 2010, this number increased by about 119 percent.

This week we focuse on a very familiar name in children and public education.

Entering its 47th season The show producers for long running Sesame Street hope that Julia, a young Muppet girl with red hair and bright green eyes, will help “reduce the stigma” attached to the condition of autism spectrum disorders.

The character already exists in print and digital storybooks and is part of an initiative called “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children.”

Julia makes her TV debut in the US on April 10th on Youtube, HBO and PBS.

Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of US social impact,

Express the years of research behind Julia, expressing; ”

We wanted to reduce the stigma often found around these children

Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop

Sesame Street has been on the air since 1969, and features a host of incredibly famous characters including Big Bird,

Bert and Ernie, Elmo and the Cookie Monster. In Julia’s debut episode, Julia is expected to demonstrate some

common characteristics of autism. The scenario will begin when Sesame staple and beloved character, Big Bird is

introduced to her, Julia ignores him.

Confused, Big Bird thinks “that maybe she didn’t like me”.

But the other Muppets tell him: “She does things just a little differently.”

Listen to the full feature here: