'Sesame Street' brings awareness to autism with new character Julia

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Sesame Street has launched a new nationwide initiative to bring awareness to autism along with the first muppet with autism, Julia.

Launched online Wednesday, Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, offers users a free downloadable app that includes videos and digital story books starring Julia designed to help children relate with others who have the developmental disorder.

"Children with autism are five times more likely to get bullied," Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, the senior vice president of community and family engagement at Sesame Workshop, told People magazine. "With one in 68 children having autism, that's a lot of bullying. Our goal is to bring forth what all children share in common, not their differences. Children with autism share in the joy of playing and loving and being friends and being part of a group."

Families can get to know Julia now through an online storybook entitled We're Amazing 1,2,3!. In it, fan favorite Muppet Elmo goes on a playdate with Julia while helping another friend Abby understand her.

"Elmo's daddy told Elmo that Julia has autism," he says. "So she does things a little differently. Sometimes Elmo talks to Julia using fewer words and says the same thing a few times. ... Oh, and sometimes Elmo waits a long time for Julia to answer."

The initiative is also designed to help educate parents with children with autism the best practices for handling everyday stressful situations such as brushing teeth, going to bed and crossing the street.

Sesame Workshop is partnering with 14 other organizations including Autism Speaks and the Council for Exceptional Children to help share the new project in schools and communities across the country.

"Sesame Workshop is uniquely positioned to play a meaningful role in increasing peoples' understanding about autism," Sherrie Westin, executive vice president of Global Impact and Philanthropy at Sesame Workshop, said in a statement. "This project is an extension of the belief we've always promoted: 'we are all different, but all the same.' I am passionate about this initiative, and am so proud of the partnerships with the autism community that have led to this."

Back in August, Sesame Workshop and HBO announced a new partnership that will mean the next five seasons of Sesame Street will air first on the pay-cable TV network and its platforms.