Sesame Workshop’s New Autism Resources

Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, has released free resources in English and Spanish aim to help autistic children and their families build confidence and self-determination skills, while fostering understanding and acceptance of the condition.

The new resources are part of the Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative. They 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” 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” 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,” said Jeanette Betancourt, Ed. D, Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact, 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.”

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 highlights positive identity and friendship of all children, encouraging a sense of belonging in a diverse society.

The Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative was launched in 2015, with the introduction of Julia as a storybook character, and funded by American Greetings, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Kristen Rohr and The Jones/Davis family, in celebration of Julia Brooke Davis. Since Julia made her debut in 2017 as a Sesame Street Muppet, she has appeared in various episodes, segments, and specials. 

Resources and more information can be found at sesameworkshop.org/autism.