NPR

Julia, A Muppet With Autism, Joins The Cast Of 'Sesame Street'

Julia has bright red hair, big green eyes and she loves to draw. She can be a little shy, but Elmo and Abby Cadabby don't mind. She's voiced by Stacey Gordon, whose son is on the autism spectrum, too.
Julia (center) first appeared online and in printed materials as a part of <em>Sesame Street</em>'s<a href="http://autism.sesamestreet.org/storybook-we-are-amazing/" target="_blank"> See Amazing in all Children</a> initiative. She'll now appear on TV as well. From left, Elmo, Alan Muraoka, Julia, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird.

For the first time in a decade, the classic children's television show Sesame Street will introduce a new Muppet on the air.

Her name is Julia. She's a shy and winsome 4-year-old, with striking red hair and green eyes. Julia likes to paint and pick flowers. When Julia speaks, she often echoes what she's just heard her friends Abby and Elmo say. Julia has autism.

"There's so many people that have given her what she is. I'm just hoping to bring her the heart," says Stacy Gordon, the veteran puppeteer selected to play

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