'Sesame Street' Promotes Understanding Of Autism Among Children Through Newest Autistic Muppet Julia

The popular children's TV show "Sesame Street" will highlight the issues faced by children with Austism in the show's latest season. The programme is set to introduce a new muppet called Julia who is autistic with organizers hoping the new character will help children understand the condition.

Sesame Street has taken a bold decision critics have claimed in aiming to talk about such issues faced by children, Mental Floss reported. The character of Julia is modelled on a young preschool girl who owing to her condition does things that are different, the publication reported.

Furthermore the publication quoted a Sesame Street workshop where it was claimed the initiative is part of the company's wide ranging set of tools for autism-awareness. The theme for the project under which the latest character will be introduced is titled "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children."

Sesame Street initially introduced the character online as the face of the campaign, the company had put together. Alongside Julia's online appearance the company slowly introduced her into story books for children as well.

The minds behind the Sesame Street concept said through her characteristics of playing differently with her other friends including Abby Cadabby , Grover and Elmo she introduces children to her world. Jeanette Betancourt, the project's senior vice president, said in the United States  alone one in 68 children are being diagnosed with Autism, the Mirror reported.

The Sesame Street campaign aims to reduce the stigma associated with Autism as well as introduce a better understanding of the condition. In order to get the message across more clearly, the projects' leaders enlisted the help of Stacey Gordon, who is a puppeteer as well as a mother to a child with autism.

The children's show Sesame Street which has been on TV since the 60s features many popular characters including Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster and Big Bird. The latest character of Julia will join the muppet family onscreen in the US in April, 2017, the Telegraph reported.