Kudos to Sesame Street! The brand just launched a major autism education initiative and a new little ambassador, Julia, who has autism. Online resource Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children now provides teachers, families and caregivers with educational materials and tools to help families touched by autism with everyday activities. Sesame Street also hopes it will help de-stigmatize autism, which affects one in 86 American children.
Here’s what you’ll find new online:
- An iPad app (Sesame and Autism, available on iTunes)
- A customizable website with adaptations like large buttons and an audio-off option (http://autism.sesamestreet.org/)
- New videos, including a video “Amazing” with Elmo, Abby and Grover
- Digital story books (featuring Elmo, Abby and Julia)
- Family routine cards that take kids step-by-step through everyday activities like going to school and being in a restaurant
While there are currently no plans to include Julia in the broadcast version of Sesame Street (we checked in with the team!), we’re hoping to find her there soon!