TMC PULSE

15 t m c » p u l s e | d e c 2 0 1 9/JA N 2 02 0 "I always tell my families ... please consider your own individual family and your own val- ues when exploring the resources available. It's similar to how we describe autism as a spectrum— there's a spectrum of opinions and ways of think- ing about the diagnosis of autism, and I think that we've really come a long way with how individuals with autism or autistic individuals are portrayed in the media," Fein said. "But we have a really long road ahead of us, so I'm really happy that folks are having these difficult and important conversa- tions, and I really just hope they don't end here." Goring, of Autism Speaks, echoed that sentiment. "Julia really was developed by bringing the community together, and we would hope that maybe that would continue as this campaign continues to reach more families," she said. Normalizing autism Despite the recent controversy, Julia's character has been welcomed with open arms by advocates and individuals with autism. "I think one of the best things that 'Sesame Street' has done in consultation with autism orga- nizations is that they don't just bring awareness, but they promote inclusion," Fein said. The show, which celebrated its 50th anniver- sary in November, explores how Julia's difficulty with social interactions and sensitivity to sensory aspects of her environment affect the individuals around her. "They show how children and adults around her really have so much empathy and aren't just aware of her difficulties, but make a point of taking the time to get to know her and put forth the effort to include her in everything that they do," Fein said. Goring stressed the importance of those interactions. "Children watching at home can actually see the modeling of the characters on the show and how they accept Julia and some of her challenges, and that they support her in a very natural way," she said. Bascom said that every detail about Julia's character was intentional and meant to promote accep- tance, including the fact that she is female, an underdiagnosed group in the autism community. In addition, Julia uses an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device and often wears noise-canceling headphones. "She's normalizing a lot of the accommodations that a lot of autistic kids, especially young kids, are going to need," Bascom said, adding that she's heard stories of parents who have used Julia to explain their own child's diagnosis to them, as well as speech therapists who have created handmade "talkers" just like Julia's, so their patients who use AAC devices could have Julia dolls who also use an AAC device. One person with autism Expanding the conversation around autism has been an ongoing struggle for advocates, in part because autism exists on such a wide spectrum. "When talking about autism, I think it's really important to remember the entire phrase, which is autism spectrum disorder, meaning that each person with autism really has a distinct set of strengths and challenges," Fein said. "I always think about a quote from Dr. Stephen Shore, who's a famous autism advo- cate who also happens to be on the spectrum, and he always says that if you met one person with autism, then you've met one person with autism." On Julia's debut "Sesame Street" episode, Alan embraced this truth perfectly when he spoke to Big Bird about what autism meant "for Julia." When it comes to individuals with autism, Fein added, one of the best ways to make sure people feel included and understood is to simply ask them about their preferences. For example, some people prefer to be referred to as autistic individuals, she said, while others prefer to be known as individuals with autism. "I think that the main takeaway is to be respectful and to be inclusive, and how you go about that means asking the person," Fein said. "Don't make assumptions, but find out: how do you want to be talked about?" ASAN has made giant strides in helping the media and general public talk about autism. The group's tag line, "Nothing About Us, Without Us," reinforces its mission to empower autistic individuals and to ensure they have a seat at the table. Bascom said this is especially significant when it comes to depicting autism in the media, as Julia does. "I think it's important that creators are really coming from a place that is thoughtful and respectful and that really understands and emphasizes that autistic people are full, rich, complex people," Bascom said. "It's important to understand that you're telling a story about a person; you're not telling a story about a problem." Julia was created in 2015 as part of a Sesame Workshop initiative called Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, which supports families with free bilingual resources, available online at sesamestreet.org/autism. Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind "Sesame Street." Julia colors on an episode of "Sesame Street."

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