Sesame Street Expands Julia's Story by Introducing Her Family for Autism Awareness Month
To celebrate Autism Awareness month, Sesame Street is introducing a whole slew of important characters in Julia’s life—her family. When the 4-year-old muppet was first introduced in 2015, she marked the brand’s first character with autism. Now, after four years of getting to know Julia, viewers will be introduced to the family who makes up her world.
Autism currently affects one in 59 children in the US, and as any parent or sibling to someone with autism will tell you, the developmental disorder affects the entire family. “Children with autism often face unique challenges, as do their parents and siblings. But every family faces challenges of some sort, which is why we are focusing on what all families have in common. In a family, everyone has different roles, challenges, and strengths, and everyone can learn from one another,” Sherrie Westin, president of global impact and philanthropy at Sesame Workshop, said in a statement.
Julia’s family is made up of her art teacher mother, saxophone playing dad, soccer-loving big brother and companion dog. Fans can learn more about their clan through information and videos on Sesame Street’s website. The preschool brand also released other resources online, including how to deal with bullying, to help families with autism.
Last year, a little girl used what she knew about Julia to spark up a friendship with a boy she met who had autism. The sweet story instantly went viral, showing how much Julia’s storyline has impacted those directly affected by autism as well as kids who may be unfamiliar with the disorder.
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