Sesame Workshop is the educational nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. The nonprofit is currently serving more than 150 countries with a mission “to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.” In their most recent project, the nonprofit is hoping to destigmatize autism by introducing the first muppet with autism named Julia.
The new muppet, Julia, is being introduced digitally on the Sesame 
Street and Autism app, which is available on the iPad for free! Within the app, there are several resources to benefit families with or without children with autism.
According to its description on iTunes, the “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children app provides tools to help families with preschool children with autism, as well as help those just learning about autism celebrate differences and build bridges of acceptance.”
Features of Sesame Street and Autism app:
- 8 interactive family routine cards
- Articles with tips and strategies
- Videos featuring real families and Sesame Street’s Abby CAdabby
- We’re Amazing 123! digital storybook
The digital storybook present within this app, We’re Amazing 123! was written by Leslie Kimmelman, whose son was diagnosed with autism over 20 years ago. Kimmelman’s note to the readers on the website is as follows:
More than 20 years ago, my beautiful son received the diagnosis of autism, and my world changed instantly and profoundly. I knew nothing about autism, and it seemed that those around me—even the professionals—didn’t know much either. Today, happily, that has changed. There’s greater awareness, and there has been much progress understanding autism. But it’s still a puzzle, and every child is affected differently. You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.’ So what’s the most important thing for people to know? We’re all different in some way or another—that’s what makes the world an interesting place. And equally, all of us in our own way amazing!