Sesame Street Announces Autism Initiative

We were very pleased to see the introduction of a new nationwide initiative by Sesame Workshop, titled Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children. The initiative, aimed at communities with children ages 2 to 5, includes a variety of resources, videos, and stories that celebrate the uniqueness of every child. The initiative also includes the first Sesame Street character with autism, a muppet named Julia.

Here is an excerpt of the official statement from autism.sesamestreet.org: “A recent study reveals that children with autism are five times more likely to be bullied than their peers—treatment no child should endure. While the differences between people with autism and their peers may seem significant, children share something far more important: unique qualities and talents that make the world an interesting place. That’s why Sesame Workshop created Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children.”

The initiative was announced with the release of a Sesame Street music video for “The ‘Amazing’ Song” accompanied by a “#seeamazing” social media campaign. The song stresses the sameness of each child while recognizing that some children have their “own ways to play” and “own ways of seeing the world.” The campaign is a great step toward enhancing children’s awareness and understanding of their peers with autism.

The site is rich with resources for parents and children alike, including:

• Downloadable Daily Routine Cards, helping children learn the steps of everyday activities like washing hands and crossing the street
• A series of videos profiling families including children with autism, such as Meeting Unique Needs and A Sibling Story

If you have questions or are interested in therapy services for your child with autism, contact our team today. We offer a variety of programs and services.