![]() ![]() She also has a son with autism, and, before she started her family, was a therapist to youngsters on the spectrum.Īlthough she figured her chances of landing the dream role of Julia were nil, her contacts in the puppet world paid off: Two friends who worked as Muppeteers on "Sesame Street" dropped her name to the producers. Gordon is a Phoenix-based puppeteer who performs, conducts classes and workshops, and creates whimsical puppets for sale to the public. "I said, 'If she's ever a puppet, I want to BE Julia!'" It was with keen interest that Stacey Gordon first learned of Julia more than a year ago. ![]() But while she represents the full range of children on the spectrum, she isn't meant to typify each one of them: "Just as we look at all children as being unique, we should do the same thing when we're looking at children with autism," Betancourt says. We're modeling the way both children and adults can look at autism from a strength-based perspective: finding things that all children share." "We wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. "In the U.S., one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder," she says. Additional videos featuring Julia will be available online.ĭeveloping Julia and all the other components of this campaign has required years of consultation with organizations, experts and families within the autism community, according to Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president of U.S. She makes her TV debut on "Sesame Street" in the "Meet Julia" episode airing April 10 on both PBS and HBO. The goal is to promote a better understanding of what the Autism Speaks advocacy group describes as "a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences."īut now Julia has been brought to life in fine Muppet fettle. She has been the subject of a storybook released along with videos, e-books, an app and website. Joining her pals, Julia (performed by Stacey Gordon) takes off hunting.įor more than a year, Julia has existed in print and digital illustrations as the centerpiece of a multifaceted initiative by Sesame Workshop called "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children." With that, they skedaddle, an exit that calls for the six Muppeteers squatted out of sight below them to scramble accordingly. "You have Julia on your team, and she is really good at finding shapes!" In this scene being taped for airing next season, these Muppet chums have been challenged to spot objects shaped like squares or circles or triangles. Look: On this friendliest of streets (actually Studio J at New York's Kaufman Astoria Studios, where "Sesame Street" lives) Julia is about to play a game with Oscar, Abby and Grover. Rather than being treated like an outsider, which too often is the plight of kids on the spectrum, Julia is one of the gang. That certainly goes for Julia, a Muppet youngster with blazing red hair, bright green eyes - and autism. NEW YORK (AP) - Folks on Sesame Street have a way of making everyone feel accepted. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |