New Sesame Workshop Resources for Autism Acceptance Month

Sesame Workshop has introduced new bilingual resources in honor of Autism Acceptance Month as part of its Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative.

The English- and Spanish-language resources aim to help autistic children and their families build confidence and self-determination skills while also fostering understanding and acceptance of autism among all children and adults. This includes the new storybook Julia and Rose—Best Friends Fur-Ever, new printables, articles for parents and caregivers and the webinar Forging Furry Friendships.

In Julia and Rose—Best Friends Fur-Ever, available as a digital and print storybook, Julia grows in self-determination as she finds kind ways to care for her dog with help from her family. The three new printables feature art and themes from the storybook and are designed to give children opportunities to focus their attention on a task and make decisions while still having fun.

The new articles for parents and caregivers share activities to help children develop self-determination skills, build confidence and find a sense of belonging when helping others.

The webinar explores ways animal interventions can support autistic children and their families. Experts explain the science behind the special relationship between humans and animals and offer next steps for families interested in finding a pet, service animal or other animal-based programs.

“Since we introduced Julia in 2015, we have heard from families and educators around the world how much they love and relate to her and how she has helped them start conversations and foster an understanding of autism,” said Jeanette Betancourt, Ed.D., senior VP of U.S. social impact at Sesame Workshop. “We are thrilled to launch these new resources, which reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a more inclusive world where autistic children are celebrated and supported in all the ways they learn and grow.”

Also in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, there are various location-based experiences planned around the world. Sesame Street Land in SeaWorld Orlando will have Julia join the daily parade wearing sensory headphones to manage noise sensitivity. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, will feature a Julia & Friends Weekend featuring sensory-friendly performances as part of its Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend series. Sesame Place Philadelphia, Sesame Place San Diego and Busch Gardens will offer Julia meet-and-greets and distribute the free storybook We’re Amazing, 1, 2, 3!

Internationally, Sesame Street Japan and the Midories, a musical group of five children who regularly appear on NHK, are debuting a new We Belong music video featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster and Julia to highlight positive identity and friendship of all children. In Bangladesh, a day-long event will be held on Autism Acceptance Day at RTV’s studio, including a Sisimpur costumed character show.