Everyone’s favorite kids show, Sesame Street, has evolved from a childhood classic to a trail-blazer for inclusion, thanks to the introduction of its newest Muppet character. In April, the PBS show will celebrate the debut of Julia: the first Muppet with autism. Julia is described as a four year old who likes to sing, but who also does things differently because she has autism. As the prevalence of autism continues to grow, this is a very significant step in the right direction for one of the country’s most famous children’s shows. It is crucial that typically developing children are educated on and exposed to what autism is, so that they learn at a young age that respect and inclusion of their peers with autism is of the utmost importance.

The unique nature of autism is that it shows itself in endless forms and affects people in countless different ways. The depiction of Julia’s character is an example of only one individual girl who has autism, not the entire population on the autism spectrum. It is essential for children to understand that by knowing the character Julia, they are learning what one of the many unique cases of autism in the world would look like. In teaching children that Julia simply sees the world through a different lens, and goes about her day with a different manner of thinking and acting, the younger generation will grasp the concept that some people don’t fit into a standard box. More importantly, they will learn that when one of their peers does not fit into that standard box that’s ok. Hopefully, this understanding at a young age will blossom into a generation of leaders that not only accept but also value the unique manner in which a person with autism’s brain functions.