Julia (Sesame Street)

Julia is a four-year-old girl on the children's television program Sesame Street who has autism. She is a yellow Anything Muppet with a red bob cut hairstyle and green eyes (blue for green screen uses) who wears a dark dress shirt over a light pink t-shirt, green pants, and black shoes. She premiered on the show on April 10, 2017, though she was introduced in “digital form” in 2015.[1] Her debut marks a new phase of Sesame Workshop’s autism awareness initiative, “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children”, which provides resources “designed to serve autistic children and their families”.[2] The role of Julia is performed by puppeteer Stacey Gordon, whose son has autism.[3] Julia Bascom of Autistic Self Advocacy Network was one of the experts consulted to create the character.[4]

For three television seasons, a Sesame Street episode from each season starring Julia has premiered simultaneously on HBO and PBS on the same day during April, popularly recognized as Autism Awareness Month. These shows include Julia's introductory episode (#4715), "Shape Hunt" (#4821), and "Julia's Haircut" (#4921). This departs from a previously established deal between HBO and Sesame Workshop where first run episodes on the network air on PBS following a nine-month window. These episodes have also premiered on the second Monday in April, which deviates from HBO's regular airing of Sesame Street episodes on Saturdays.

## Controversy

Recent promotional and advocacy materials involving Julia have been widely held to be controversial since August of 2019. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, which originally helped Sesame Workshop develop the character, cut ties with Sesame Workshop due to materials produced by Autism Speaks. The materials combine "incredibly harmful information with useful information with little to no distinction", including theories and narratives about autism that are not scientifically supported, and medical advice not backed by scientific research.[5][6][7]

## References

1. ↑ "Meet Julia | Sesame Street and Autism" (in en-US). Sesame Street and Autism. http://autism.sesamestreet.org/video/meet-julia/.
2. ↑ "Sesame Workshop Expands Commitment to Autistic Children & Their Families - Sesame Workshop" (in en-US). Sesame Workshop. http://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-releases/sesame-workshop-expands-commitment-to-autistic-children-their-families-with-new-muppet-a-special-episode-additional-content-and-educational-resources/.
3. ↑ "Newest "Sesame Street" Muppet has autism: Meet Julia" (in en). CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/julia-sesame-street-new-muppet-autism-2/.
4. ↑ Martinelli, Marissa (April 12, 2017). "An Autism Advocate Explains How She Helped Sesame Street Create Its New Autistic Muppet" (in en). Slate Magazine. https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/autistic-self-advocacy-network-s-julia-bascom-on-sesame-streets-new-muppet.html.
5. ↑ Luterman, Sara. "Trouble on Sesame Street". https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/08/sesame-street-autism-speaks-controversy-julia.html. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
6. ↑ Keeley, Matt. "A Prominent Autism Group Has Cut Ties with 'Sesame Street' Over New PSAs Featuring Autistic Muppet". Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/prominent-autism-group-has-cut-ties-sesame-street-over-new-psas-featuring-autistic-muppet-1453628. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
7. ↑ Budryk, Zack (August 6, 2019). "Autism advocacy group ends relationship with 'Sesame Street' over PSAs that 'further stigma'" (in en). TheHill. https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/456343-autism-advocacy-group-ends-relationship-with-sesame-street-over. Retrieved October 29, 2019.

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