For many families, conversations about autism do not begin in a doctor’s office or a classroom. They begin on the living room floor, with familiar characters and small, meaningful moments.
Sesame Workshop
For many families, conversations about autism do not begin in a doctor’s office or a classroom. They begin on the living room floor, with familiar characters and small, meaningful moments. This spring, Sesame Workshop is building on that reality with a new collection of resources designed to help children and the adults who love them better understand autism and each other.
The initiative, detailed in this Sesame Workshop announcement, expands on a decade of work through its “See Amazing in All Children” effort. At the center is Sesame Street and one of its most impactful characters: Julia.
The new materials include videos, printables, and guidance for parents and educators. They focus on something deceptively simple: there is no single “right” way to connect, play, or participate.
And for families raising autistic children, that message lands differently. It feels less like a lesson and more like recognition.
Over the last decade, understanding of autism has shifted. Diagnoses have increased, and with that growth has come a broader picture of what autism looks like across individuals and communities.
That change is reflected in both research and lived experience. According to CDC data, autism now affects 1 in 36 children in the United States, underscoring how many families are part of this conversation.
Dr. Abby Bucuvalas, Senior Director of Curriculum and Programs at Sesame Workshop, explained how that shift has shaped Julia’s role. “One of the biggest things is that what autism is understood to be is just bigger than it used to be,” said Bucuvalas. “At the same time, Julia is who Julia is. We have always wanted her to represent herself as one autistic child. She is true to her own experiences.”
That distinction matters. Julia is not meant to stand in for every autistic child. She exists as one example, one story, one way of being. And that specificity is what makes her relatable.
It also aligns with research emphasizing the importance of individualized understanding in autism support, such as findings published on PubMed that highlight the varied communication and behavior patterns.
In one of the new videos, friendship is explored through the everyday interactions between Elmo and Julia. Their relationship is not framed as a lesson. It simply unfolds.
Sesame Workshop
In one of the new videos, friendship is explored through the everyday interactions between Elmo and Julia. Their relationship is not framed as a lesson. It simply unfolds.
“Friends can like different things and still be friends,” Elmo said. “Elmo likes to dance to really loud music… but Julia doesn’t like loud music. She likes quiet music. So when Julia and Elmo have a dance party together, Julia wears headphones, and Elmo makes sure the music is not too loud.”
It is a small adjustment. But it carries weight.
The same theme appears in how they play. “Elmo wanted to build a block tower, but Julia wanted to play with our loveys,” Elmo explained. “So we sat together but played different things… and then we played together once the castle was done.”
This is not about compromise in the traditional sense. It is about coexistence. Shared space without forced sameness.
For children watching, the takeaway is subtle but powerful: connection does not require identical behavior.
One of the core ideas behind the new resources is that participation can take many forms. That may sound obvious to adults. It is less obvious in environments with narrow expectations.
Dr. Bucuvalas addressed this directly. “There can be a sort of narrow understanding of what these things look like,” she said. “Kindness at three is hugging your friend, or participating is sitting crisscross and looking at the person reading the story. But many neurodivergent children are extremely kind and engaged; they just look different while they are doing it.”
This reframing shifts the focus. Instead of asking children to fit into a predefined version of participation, it asks adults and peers to recognize participation in its many forms.
It is also a reminder that inclusion is not passive. It requires active recognition. And often, a willingness to unlearn.
For Stacey Gordon, who performs Julia and is also a parent of an autistic child, representation goes beyond accuracy. It includes joy.
“One thing I’ve always tried to bring to Julia is autism joy,” she said. “The autistic community is embracing that more now. We’ve never seen autism as a tragedy in our family.”
That perspective challenges a narrative that still lingers in public discourse.
She shared a moment with her son that reframed how he saw himself. After learning about autism prevalence, he said, “That means I’m really rare… I’m really special.”
Later, he reflected differently. “I’m not special, but I can do special things.”
It is a subtle shift. But it removes the burden of exceptionality. It replaces it with possibility, and that distinction matters for both autistic children and their peers.
For many parents, one of the hardest parts of raising children, neurodivergent or not, is knowing what to say. Or worrying about saying the wrong thing.
Dr. Bucuvalas offered a perspective that feels both practical and freeing. “It’s okay to make mistakes,” she said. “Parenting is not a sprint. You can always go back and revise what you said. Add more. Keep the conversation going.”
That approach mirrors how children learn. Through repetition. Through adjustment. Through time. It also aligns with the design of Sesame Workshop’s resources, which are meant to be revisited rather than completed once and set aside.
Growth is not linear. And neither are conversations.
The idea of creating inclusive spaces can feel overwhelming. There is always more to do. More to consider. Dr. Bucuvalas offered a different framework. Think of it as building a muscle.
“What is one step you can commit to every week?” she said. “Maybe it’s a calm-down corner. Maybe it’s fidget tools. Over time, those small steps become a habit. And then inclusion becomes part of the baseline.”
That perspective removes pressure. It replaces it with progress. It also reinforces a truth that often gets overlooked: inclusive environments benefit everyone.
Not just autistic children. All children.
Julia's impact is not limited to episodes or videos. It extends into classrooms, playgrounds, and everyday interactions.
Sesame Workshop
Gordon reflected on how far that reach has gone. “I never would have predicted that Julia would be in so many countries,” she said. “That kids all around the world are feeling included because of this work.”
That global reach matters. But the smaller moments matter too.
A child choosing to sit next to someone who plays differently.
A friend notices when the noise is too loud.
A parent pausing to reframe what participation looks like.
These are not headline moments. But they are the ones that shape how children understand each other.
And how they carry that understanding forward.
At its core, the new Sesame Workshop resources are about visibility. Not in a performative way. In a human one.
Seeing children as they are.
Recognizing differences without assigning value to them.
Allowing space for multiple ways of being.
For families who have long been having these conversations, it feels familiar. For those just beginning, it offers a starting point that is approachable, warm, and grounded in everyday life.
And for children, it does something even more important.
It shows them that friendship is not about sameness.
It is about understanding.
For more on Sesame Workshop’s work with Julia and autism inclusion, see this profile of Stacey Gordon and additional reporting on how Julia continues to support children and families.
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