Marking Autism Acceptance Month by Helping Children Cope with Change in an Uncertain World

The world looks a lot different than it looked only a little over a year ago. The ways in which children learn, see their families and friends, and even celebrate their birthdays have changed.

All children can get thrown off when things change, but children with autism can have an especially tough time. The routines children once knew in a pre-COVID world have been upended, and adapting to these changes can be anxiety-inducing for both the children and their families. It’s in times like this, when flexibility and coping skills are challenged, that Sesame can make a difference.

To mark Autism Acceptance Month, we’re sharing new resources to support children with autism, their families, and providers, with the added challenges of COVID-19. These new tools are part of our Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative, and address challenges such as:

· Keeping or adapting old routines​, and creating new ones
· Building flexibility in response to frequent changes
· Transitions and dealing with the unknown​
· Coping with that uncertainty as a parent, and
· Helping children and parents adjust to on-screen therapies and check-ins​

The resources, available in English and Spanish on SesameStreet.org/autism, are designed to help children and families cope with changes in routines and uncertainty — all featuring Julia, a vibrant, red-haired, four-year-old girl with autism who lives on Sesame Street. Children and families can also tune in to a brand-new episode of Sesame Street featuring Julia, streaming on PBS and HBO Max!

We know the past year hasn’t been easy, and many challenges — and changes — still lie ahead. But with a little help from Julia, children with autism and their families can find new ways to manage the stress that comes along with the unexpected.