The most recent example of a Sesame Street character breaking new ground is Julia, a 4-year-old muppet who has autism.
However, the motivation behind incorporating Julia into Sesame Street goes beyond providing a character that autistic children and their parents can relate to.
“Fostering empathy in young viewers, that’s kind of the heart and soul of Sesame Street.
“Sesame Street has always had kind of a mission of diversity and inclusion,” executive producer Ben Lehmann told TV Guide this spring.