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New resources developed to support Autism Acceptance Month
Freya Lucas
Apr 05, 2024
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Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, released new resources earlier this week in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month.
The resources, which are available in both English and Spanish, feature Julia, an autistic Sesame Street Muppet, and focus on confidence building, self-determination, and choosing and setting goals.They 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.
The new resources are part of the Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative, and add to the wealth of content for children, families, community providers, and educators, which includes books, videos, articles, and professional development tools.
The new bilingual resources include:
- A digital and print storybook “Julia and Rose — Best Friends Fur-Ever,” which shows how Julia grows in self-determination as she finds kind ways to care for her beloved dog, Rose. With help from her family, Julia completes important tasks like bathing, feeding, and walking Rose.
- Three new printables — “Super Helper,” “Time for a Treat,” and “Where Should We Go?” that 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 having fun.
- Two articles for parents and caregivers — “Teaching Self-Determination Skills” and “Setting and Achieving Goals” which share playful activities to help children develop important self-determination skills, build confidence, and a sense of belonging when helping others.
- A webinar “Forging Furry Friendships” that explores ways animal interventions may support autistic children and their families. Expert guests 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,” Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact Jeanette Betancourt said.
“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.”
The new resources are complimented by a new release from shoe company Crocs, who are releasing a new Sesame Street collection for preschoolers and toddlers, featuring Julia, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby. The collection is launching exclusively at Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker stores as part of the “Be Seen” platform to promote and support Autism awareness and acceptance.
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. The video highlight’s positive identity and friendship of all children, encouraging a sense of belonging in a diverse society.
Resources and more information can be found at sesameworkshop.org/autism.
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