Posted on 03/20/2017 11:47:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Folks on Sesame Street have a way of making everyone feel accepted.
That certainly goes for Julia, a Muppet youngster with blazing red hair, bright green eyes – and autism. Rather than being treated like an outsider, which too often is the plight of kids on the spectrum, Julia is one of the gang.
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. 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.
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On the one hand, I’m autistic and I wish that there was better understanding while I was growing up.
On the other hand, I can’t help but be concerned that this is going to be SO politically correct and do way more harm than good.
I wonder when we’ll see “survivor of botched abortion baby” muppet and LGBTXYZFFS muppet. There could thousands of potentially protected class muppets. Christian Bakery Couple Muppet, Satanist High School Kid, etc. Take a stab at it.
Well, the Muppets on Sesame Street already have mental illness anyway. Ernie is manic, Bert is depressive, Big Bird is arrested development, Oscar is a compulsive hoarder, Cookie Monster has a severe eating disorder, Count is obsessive-compulsive, Grover is borderline psychotic, Elmo is... well, Elmo. Might as well throw an autistic into the lot.
Snrk.
I love this comment.
Can you tell me how to get - how to get away from Sesame Street.
I think it’s a good idea, so long as there is not too much attention lavished on it. Most autistic adults and young people I know wish to mix in with the public as much as is possible. At least when they are in the mood to socialize, like anybody else.
The only thing I would have done differently at this early stage of the new character, is I would have given her a face with more ‘classically autistic’ features, such as the distinctive eyes and mouth shapes. Many autistic do not have these features I refer to, but some do. These folks and their families have to adjust to and eventually embrace that individual difference. We are all unique in our own way.
Some folks think those with MS are automatically autistic.
Not necessarily so at all.
José, the Illegal Muppet
Janus, the Transexual Muppet
Mohammed, the Jihadi Muppet
Snowflake, the Safe Space Muppet
Hillary, the Parkinson’s Muppet
Elizabeth, the American Indian Muppet
Bernie, the Phony Socialist Muppet
Nancy, the Bug Eyed Muppet
Chuckle, the Self Hating Jew Muppet
Donald, the Winning Muppet
I know what you mean.
There’s a difference between 1: here’s a person with a mental issue; here’s how she works. Here’s how to be patient and help her fit in. And 2: let’s patronize the hell out of this poor widdle victim.
you know the best show ever for understanding kids that are different mentally and socially is "The Middle"....they featured "Brick" a socially awkward, physically different kid and its so funny yet touching and revealing...it shows him with his other "outcasts"..the boy who speaks very loud, the boy who meows like a cat, the boy who obsesses with his white socks....
Can’t wait for the character with Turret’s
That will be a gasser.
As long as they don’t spend taxpayer money on it, I don’t care.
I agree with you it is really hard to explain autism to youngsters and the issues the youngsters have vary greatly child to child.
you just reminded me there is all ready an autistic Muppet Sam the eagle.
you just reminded me there is all ready an autistic Muppet Sam the eagle.
There is no classically autistic face. Are you thinking Down Syndrome? Kids with autism look like anyone else. Sometimes there can be a shut down expression over their face, but the face itself will look like anyone’s face.
I don’t think there is a way in a 2 minute segment to introduce kids to autism or help children under 6 know how to help a child with autism fit in. Pointless for that age group. And no one else watches Sesame Street.
It is extremely hard to help a 5 year old with autism understand that the way he perceives the world is any different from the other kids.
So this is feel good for parents ONLY. It won’t do crap for kids of that age. Nor is there anything you can do for preschoolers to help them deal with differences, EXCEPT telling them that some kids have a harder time [whatever - listening, seeing, sitting still, speaking] than other kids. Which works for kids with ADHD, blindness, speech issues, whatever. Kids that young cannot differentiate “autism” as a thing. Kids won’t have much patience yet anyway. They will try to play with a child, and if it doesn’t work (because their interests diverge, or autism, or anything, really), they move on.
It’s a silly feel good tactic.
They do well with little, simple, preschool issues like going potty and stopping the pacifier and such.
Why don’t you give a show a shot first, ace.
Should be shown in a positive light but not in a lie.
That’s the plan, my friend.
Just jaded lately.
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