Sesame Street Introduces Muppet With Autism

 



Sesame Street is adding a new character to its lineup with Julia, a muppet who has vibrant red hair and autism.

Julia is already a staple in Sesame Street digital and print books, and will appear in the 47th season of Sesame Street in April, the Associated Press reported.

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, announced in 2015 that Julia would join Elmo and the gang in books and an app as part of the "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children" campaign. Julia, who "does things a little differently," according to the workshop, is part of the campaign focused on reducing the stigma of autism.

And while the show may make it look like Julia’s character effortlessly came together, it took years of consulting with organizations and experts in the autism community to develop her character, and the campaign, Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president of U.S. Social Impact, told AP.

"In the U.S., one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder," Betancourt said in the interview. "We wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. We're modeling the way both children and adults can look at autism from a strength-based perspective: finding things that all children share."

Random Photos Part Three

Hilaria Baldwin got a magazine cover. Hilaria Thomas had no luck getting anything she wanted fame wise.

January Jones has her own personal pap. I wonder how much he makes off her.

Jane Krakowski in NYC looking for a job.

Jessica Simpson all dolled up and looking great.

Even Kermit thinks Jessica looks great.

Khloe Kardashian on her way to work out.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Martin Scorcese in Japan promoting their movie while

Chris Hemwsorth and Ron Howard promote Rush, also in Japan.

Elmo Being Accused By 5th Underage Teen

I'm not sure how Kevin Clash had time to be the voice of Elmo because it sounds like eh spent most of his time finding 15 and 16 year old boys to have sex with him. This week, a fifth underage accuser has come forward and said that when he was 16 he went on a gay telephone chat line and ended up meeting Elmo. Apparently Kevin would send a car for the teen and bring him to Clash's apartment in Manhattan where the two would have sex after Clash would get the teen drunk.

Another Elmo Accuser - This Makes 4 Who Have Sued

Another man has come forward to say he also had sex when he was a minor with the voice of Elmo. Kevin Clash flew the boy to NYC from Miami when he was 15 or 16 for the purpose of having sex. That is a whole bunch of laws being broken right there. what kind of parent lets their kid fly from Miami to NYC to meet a guy in his 30's? Who does that? I don't care who he is or what show he is on, you know it is not going to turn out well. Apparently the two had sex on multiple occasions while the teen was there. He is now suing. So, now there are four accusers who have sued. How many are out there who have not sued? Did Sesame Street know this was going on? Don't say no so quickly. Look at the BBC scandal with sexual molestation of kids. They knew.

Two More Elmo Victims Come Forward

At this rate, Elmo might have to stop being used as a Sesame Street character. Two more victims have come forward, bringing the total number of underage boys who were molested by the voice of Elmo to four. I can almost hear the Count saying four. From now on, Elmo is going to be associated with the molesting of boys. No one says Kevin Clash, everyone says Elmo or the voice of Elmo. That red Muppet is going to be associated with it and I think maybe it is time to retire the character permanently or at least for the next few years. Sesame Street can find some other Muppet for people to tickle.

Elmo Accuser Says He Really Was Underage

In case you were wondering last week how the man who accused the voice of Elmo, Kevin Clash, from having sex with the man when he was underage to suddenly recanting the story and saying he was legal, there was the matter of $125,000 being passed between the two. The next thing you know, there is a public retraction and everyone can love Elmo again. According to TMZ though, the man who accused Elmo says he was pressured to sign and that he didn't want to sign and that he really was 16 when Elmo had sex with him. The man, who is now 23 says he will give back the $125,000 to be able to say what really happened. Please don't let Grover be involved in this.

Elmo Accuser Recants

It is now ok to tickle your Elmo's again. You will no longer hear jokes like, "Show me on this Elmo doll where Elmo touched you." The man who had accused the voice of Elmo of having underage sex, now says the sex was when he was of legal age and that it was consensual. That does not change the fact that it is creepy that a man approaching 50 was into an 18 year old. It does suck that Kevin Clash had to go through all of this and I hope that the guy who accused him suffers some type of consequences. Kevin had taken a leave of absence from the show. Is the show going to let him back on the air? Are we going to read something six months from now that said Kevin never was allowed back or that the show has gone in a different direction. One more Grover friendly? Cookie Monster conspiracy?

Birdwalk Empire