Julia, a 4-year-old female muppet, first appeared online and in printed materials. "I said, 'If there's a puppet, I want to be her,'" Gordon tells Stahl in the video above of when she saw Julia as an animation. Meet Julia, an old buddy of Elmo’s and the newest friend on Sesame Street. That certainly goes for Julia, a Muppet youngster with blazing red hair, bright green eyes - and autism. Senior reporter, Editor of How to be Human. She’s since appeared on three seasons of the show. It’s an auspicious event because the Sesame Street Workshop spent five years gathering input from more than 250 experts just to make sure she’s an accurate portrayal of the autism … Julia is a four-year-old girl with autism from Sesame Street, introduced in 2015 as part of the Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative. Folks on Sesame Street have a way of making everyone feel accepted. She is also a puppet maker and puppeteer by profession — and the mother of a child with autism. "[I thought] it's so far out there, it's never going to happen. They have been homeless and struggled with the stigma of having an incarcerated parent. (This story highlights what autism looks like in girls, and why we may be missing or misdiagnosing it). Since it is a spectrum disorder, Goring says, no two cases of autism look exactly the same. She also has autism. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc.All rights reserved. Now she's joining the gang of "Sesame Street" on television. Julia, a 4-year-old female muppet, first appeared online and in printed materials. Julia is a four-year-old girl on the children's television program Sesame Street who is autistic. Julia has appeared in an online initiative since October 2015, and as some viewers may already be aware from these videos, Julia has autism. What’s better than spending time together as a family? (CNN) The newest resident of "Sesame Street" has orange hair and a fondness for her toy rabbit. Folks on Sesame Street have a way of making everyone feel accepted. What did it take to build a character like Julia? A worldwide rollout is planned within a year. Even her eyes can change, depending on the scene; Krewson includes a half-closed version and a totally closed version so that if Julia gets upset and overwhelmed, she can close her eyes. The newest resident of Sesame Street has orange hair and a fondness for her toy rabbit. Watching the puppeteers in action, Stahl was surprised by the way they move around during filming. This week on 60 Minutes, correspondent Lesley Stahl visits the set of "Sesame Street" to report on the new Muppet. “I would like her to be just Julia.”. In fact, some are downright upset. These are the core obsessions that drive our newsroom—defining topics of seismic importance to the global economy. Fluffster Wears a Mask. One in 68 children in the US has autism, according to the US Centers for Disease Control, up 30% from 2012 estimates. Once built, Julia was ready for the set. While at the Jim Henson Workshop, Lesley Stahl built her own Muppet, Tallulah, on the left, Lesley Stahl watches a taping of "Sesame Street", The puppeteers watch monitors to see how their Muppets are interacting on camera as they film, On her "Sesame Street" episode, Julia becomes overwhelmed when she hears sirens, California Privacy/Information We Collect. The first Sesame Street muppet with autism, Julia, has made her debut on TV in the US. Known for their quality educational programs for children, Sesame Street's autism resources are educating kids and adults in a whole new way. Julia, a new autistic muppet character debuting on the 47th season of Sesame Street. Stahl and the 60 Minutes crew were there as "Sesame Street" filmed her first episode. Julia in The Muppet Workshop. Her name is Julia, and she’s a redheaded, four-year-old who likes singing, painting and picking flowers. Known for their quality educational programs for children, Sesame Street's autism resources are educating kids and adults in a whole new way. Watch the Video. Julia showcases some of these tendencies. Muppets and their young playmates on Sesame Street have had autism, HIV and Down syndrome. Julia has autism…and she and Elmo share an amazing friendship. Julia has a strong connection to art, loves to sing and has autism. Julia’s puppeteer, Stacey Gordon, has an autistic son, and explained how important it is for kids with the disorder to see themselves reflected in popular culture—and for their peers to see it. Meet Julia, an old buddy of Elmo’s and the newest friend on Sesame Street. Like lots of kids on the autism spectrum, Julia has heightened sensitivity to noise, so when she hears sirens, they overwhelm her, triggering a meltdown. It's never going to happen.". 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. “Had my son’s friends been exposed to his behaviors through something that they had seen on TV before they experienced them in the classroom, they might not have been frightened,” she told CBS. Credit: Sesame Workshop "We had to explain to Big Bird that Julia likes Big Bird," Elmo said. Four years ago, Sesame Street introduced Julia, its first new Muppet in 10 years. She's acting this way because she's on the autism spectrum.". © 2021 Quartz Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Occasionally two people are needed to operate one Muppet – one for the head and body, and one for the arms. But even though they're not on camera, the puppeteers are still performing. Sesame Street® video courtesy of Sesame Workshop ©2017. The newest resident of Sesame Street has orange hair and a fondness for her toy rabbit. The special "Sesame Street" episode "Meet Julia" originally aired in April on HBO and PBS KIDS. Julia's puppeteer isn't the only one on the project who has real-life experience with autism. They're so funny. 60 Minutes visits "Sesame Street" for the first time and films the debut of their new Muppet character, Julia, who has autism. That certainly goes for Julia, a Muppet youngster with blazing red hair, bright green eyes — and autism. While Julia was introduced online in 2016 and has appeared in books, she will now join the cast of the wildly popular educational puppet show, along with Elmo, Big Bird and Grover, in an effort to show kids and their parents what autism looks like and how to support autistic people. What is autism spectrum disorder? "Give children that information. Let’s learn a little more about this puppet first. By Zoe Miller Elmo helpfully explains that since Julia has autism, “sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things.” When the group plays a game of tag, Julia flaps her arms. Why Sesame Street’s new character isn’t representative of most kids with autism ... and by choosing the traits for one character to represent autism, Sesame Street risked facing backlash. She also has autism. "Her eyes had to be a certain way because she has to have an intense look, but she has to look friendly," Krewson tells Stahl. When she meets Big Bird, she ignores him. She interviewed Rollie Krewson, a puppet designer often referred to as "Elmo's mom," who has been with Jim Henson's company since the 1970s. The new ads are part of a campaign to encourage parents to get early screenings for their children. Julia will debut on the US channels HBO and PBS, was well as on Cartoonito UK, Australia’s ABC network, and Mexico’s Televisa. Autism awareness and advocacy groups are cheering Julia’s addition. Now, a character that is fully aimed at introducing young children to the autism spectrum is due to hit screens, when Julia the muppet joins Sesame Street. "Well in this particular case, it takes a lot of sensitivity," Stahl says. Julia appeared on her first episode of Sesame Street on April 10, 2017. The disorder can affect communication and social interactions, and can be characterized by repetitive behaviors or intense interests. © 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. On April 10, Sesame Street will introduce Julia, a puppet with autism, to its viewers around the world. “I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on Sesame Street who has autism,” she said. Krewson created Julia's Muppet with consideration down to the smallest detail. On April 10, Sesame Street will introduce Julia, a puppet with autism, to its viewers around the world. "The puppeteers obviously are actors," Stahl says. Kick off each morning with coffee and the Daily Brief (BYO coffee). When animating Julia, Gordon draws on her own experience, a factor that Stahl says lends authenticity to the character. 2017 Mar 19. Gordon says she feels so connected to Julia, she felt as though she were meant to play the character. The "Sesame Street" team worked closely with autism organizations, educators, and families to decide how best to portray a child with autism, including how to explain autism at a pre-school level. Sesame Street writer Christine Ferraro told 60 Minutes that she hopes Julia becomes less of a novelty on the show. Her clothes are equally intentional. Her purple dress is loose, without distracting bows, buttons, or ribbons. These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. Updated Mar 20, 2017 11:37 AM EDT. Sesame Street has finally introduced Julia, a Muppet with autism and the first new character added to the show in four years. Exciting news for parents and children alike: For the first time in a decade, Sesame Street has a new Muppet. She also has autism. Singing about it, of course! Sesame Street’s autistic puppet Julia makes television debut “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Stephen Mark Shore Last night Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes included a segment about Sesame Street ‘s new autistic character Julia, who will be part of the regular television cast beginning in April. Thu Jan 07 2021. I Love My Family. Julia, a 4-year-old female muppet, first appeared online and in printed materials. When Julia flaps her arms, for example, a second puppeteer controls them. Noor and Aziz, as conceptualized by Sesame Workshop, are playful and get along well. The CDC found that 1 in 42 boys, versus 1 in 189 girls, were diagnosed in 2014. The videos above were  originally published on March 19, 2017 and produced Ann Silvio and Lisa Orlando, and edited by Lisa Orlando and Sarah Shafer Prediger. On "Sesame Street," creating a new character means making a new Muppet, and in the video embedded in the player above, Stahl visits the Jim Henson Workshop to see how it's done. An Afghan Muppet exemplified the importance of educating girls. Julia has a strong connection to art, loves to sing and has autism. In 2017, Sesame Street introduced a new Muppet named Julia, who is an autistic 4-year-old. Julia, Sesame Street and Autism. Entertaining and educating children on television for almost 50 years, the residents of "Sesame Street" have become household names. Some, like Elmo, Bert, and Ernie, need only one name. Watch the Video. Julia, Sesame Street’s autistic muppet, has a new campaign to help teach parents about autism. Julia demonstrates simple ways to make wearing a mask easier. according to the US Centers for Disease Control. "Her hair had to be made so that her bangs weren't in her eyes and that her hair didn't fall into her mouth. And witty. How "Sesame Street" created Julia, the new Muppet with autism This spring, "Sesame Street" introduced a Muppet on the spectrum. Go behind the scenes with 60 Minutes to see how the show's first character with autism was developed, Last The newest resident of Sesame Street has orange hair and a fondness for her toy rabbit. After nearly a decade of featuring the same Muppet characters, Sesame Street added a yellow Muppet named Julia. Because their puppets are out of their view, the puppeteers can see which way to manipulate them by watching the scene from a monitor near the floor. "As the parent of a child with autism, I wished that it had come out years before, when my own child was at the "Sesame Street" age," Gordon says. Say Hello to Sesame Street's First-Ever Autistic Character The company hopes this adorable new muppet will help raise awareness — and create more empathy. And it’s been two years since Sesame launched their first puppet on the autism spectrum. Newest "Sesame Street" Muppet has autism: Meet Julia. But Stacey Gordon, the puppeteer who plays Julia, isn't just an actress. Our emails are made to shine in your inbox, with something fresh every morning, afternoon, and weekend. Sesame Street and Autism - See Amazing in All Children. This spring, "Sesame Street" introduced a Muppet on the spectrum. "And good actors. The decision to make the character a girl may be a nod to the concern of some experts that autism is under-diagnosed in girls. The newest resident of Sesame Street has orange hair and a fondness for her toy rabbit. And she couldn't have any adornments in her hair—no barrettes, no ribbons.". She also has autism. She also has autism. She is a young girl with bright orange hair and big green eyes and is friends with Elmo and Abby. She also has autism. Now that it is happening on "Sesame Street," Gordon knows first-hand the impact Julia will have on children who can identify with her. Rather than make fun of her or be scared by her unusual reaction, the kids make it part of the game. Since then, "Sesame Street" has filmed a new episode featuring Julia that will be part of the show's upcoming season. Enjoy! Julia puppet with blue eyes for greenscreen use. The four-year-old girl with an orange bob-cut and green eyes debuted in 2015 as part of the Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative. There's Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, and Oscar the Grouch. Sesame Street is attempting to introduce preschoolers to autism but not everyone is happy about it. Holding their puppets high over their heads, the puppeteers wheel around on scooters to navigate the scene. The character made her debut on a clip on 60 Minutes, a news magazine show on CBS News. "We're going to tell you more about what that means, and why she's acting this way," Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, says in the video above. Sesame Street worked with 250 autism organizations and experts, including Autism Speaks, as well as its own regular child psychologists to develop Julia. She originally was created in digital form when Sesame Street launched their autism resources in 2015. "The public will understand that behind Julia, who, by the way, flaps and throws a fit when the noise gets too loud, that this mother who is manipulating the puppet knows that this is what happens," Stahl says. They're also comedians. Julia, Sesame’s Street’s new puppet, debuted on PBS Kids and HBO on Monday, April 10th, 2017. Julia, a 4-year-old female muppet, first appeared online and in printed materials. Sesame Street is welcoming a new puppet to the neighborhood. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. “We think it’s a terrific next step for Sesame Street,” said Lisa Goring, chief program and marketing officer at Autism Speaks, a US advocacy organization. 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