Do kids see the same things you see? Sesame Street raises the bar in helping kids perceive disabilities.
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The imagination is a lively, wildly vibrant thing. It’s the harbor of dreams and the window to the soul–the blank canvas on which man paints the picture of his existence. If one is willing to this vast, limitless entity such attributes, however, it can be argued that the imagination is not a “thing” at all.
Some may argue that it’s a place–a home or a shelter. So then, what would the inside of that home look like if someone were to step inside? What would they hear? What would they feel–and most importantly, what would they see?
The answers to these questions are boundless, but one time-tested television show has been making the ABC’s of life more accessible for kids since 1969, and is doing it again with the introduction of a new friend for Elmo, Cookie Monster and the rest of the beloved cast of characters.
Sesame Street recently welcomed Julia, the first character on the show with autism. The show’s producers unveiled her as a part of a campaign which launched in late October, with the hopes of encouraging empathy while raising awareness about disabilities and putting an end to bullying. The campaign, Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, aims to “celebrate the uniqueness in each and every child.” In addition, the creators of the newly-formed initiative hope to get adults and parents involved by providing tools and resources for raising autistic children.
As this news broke across various media outlets, Upworthy posted an article in support of Julia–with a headline that read, “[Julia] is the fist character on Sesame Street with autism. See how she’s bringing kids together.”
The article included several quotes about the impact of the decision to create a character with a disability, which was highlighted by Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, president of US Social Impact for Sesame Workshop.
“”When we explain from a child’s point of view that there are certain behaviors, such as slapping their hands or making noises, to express excitement or unhappiness, it helps younger children to understand how to interact with their autistic peers. It makes children more comfortable and therefore more inclusive.”
In he video above, Julia sings “The Amazing Song” with Elmo and the gang, and meets some amazing kids along the way.
For a TV show that’s been on the air for over three decades to make a move like this deserves a standing ovation. It shows fearlessness, timeliness relevance and maturity. Not only that, but to be among the first–if not the first kids’ show–to add a character with a disability to their long-standing cast–gives Sesame Street an added distinction, in addition to the many accolades the show has earned over the years.
So if you ever ask yourself as a parent, “What do my kids see?” or “Do they see the same things I do?”, consider this: If you find yourself preaching, be sure to preach the right things so your kids may one day teach what you’ve preached.
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Sesame Street In Communities/Youtube
The trouble with Julia … http://eisforerin.com/2015/10/23/not-in-love-with-julia/