For ten years, children around the world have met a bright, curious friend on Sesame Street named Julia—a character who reflects real autistic children and celebrates the many ways we all communicate and connect. In today’s post, I sat down with Kama Einhorn and Dr. Abigail Bucuvalas from Sesame Workshop to talk about how Julia came to life, why representation matters, and how their team works with families, autistic self-advocates, and educators to create resources that are thoughtful, authentic, and truly helpful.
If you love seeing AAC modeled on screen and want free tools you can use tomorrow, you’re in the right place.
Meet Kama and Abby
Tara: Today, we’re celebrating 10 years of Sesame Workshop’s Autism Initiative—and the creation of the beloved Muppet, Julia! Joining me are two incredible guests from Sesame Workshop, Kama Einhorn and Dr. Abigail Bucuvalas. Welcome, ladies!
Kama: Thank you so much! We’re excited to be here.
Abby: Yes, thanks for having us!
Tara: You both have impressive titles, but can you tell us what your roles mean in your day-to-day work?
Abby: Sure! I’m the Senior Director of Curriculum and Programs at Sesame Workshop. I’ve been here nearly 15 years, developing curriculum and program design for both U.S. and international projects.
Kama: And I’m the Senior Director of Content Design. I help create curriculum and educational messages for topics on SesameStreet.org—including the Autism Initiative we launched 10 years ago. I was part of the early development of Julia’s character and helped craft the storybooks, videos, and resources you see today.
Tara: That’s incredible! I can’t believe it’s been a whole decade since Julia was introduced. What does that milestone mean to you and your team?
Kama: It’s truly an honor. We’ve always aimed to celebrate differences and inclusivity on Sesame Street, and reaching this milestone means we’ve been able to share that message with millions of children and families—both those touched by autism and those who aren’t.
The Story Behind Julia
Tara: Julia’s journey began in 2015. What inspired her creation, and how has she evolved over time?
Kama: We’d been hearing for years from the autism community that children needed to see themselves represented in our programming. So we created Julia as a way for autistic children to feel seen—and for all children to learn about inclusion.
At first, Julia appeared in a storybook as an illustrated character, not a Muppet. But the response was so positive that she quickly became a Muppet and, eventually, a regular member of the Sesame Street family!
Tara: I love that. Representation matters so much. And as you said, one autistic person represents only themselves—it’s not one-size-fits-all.
Abby: Exactly. Julia is her own person, but we continue to listen to families and the autistic community. Their feedback helps us shape her story while staying true to who Julia is.
Seeing AAC on Sesame Street
Tara: As a speech-language pathologist, one of my favorite moments was seeing Julia use an AAC device! That was huge for our community. I remember sharing a clip on Instagram and everyone was celebrating.
Normalizing AAC use on a show like Sesame Street is powerful. In classrooms and homes, seeing that modeled on TV helps children understand that there are many ways to communicate.
Kama: That’s wonderful to hear! Inclusion and normalization are exactly what we hope to promote.
Collaboration and Research: The Sesame Way
Tara: Sesame Workshop is known for its thoughtful, research-based approach. How do you collaborate with autistic individuals, families, and professionals?
Abby: Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. From the very beginning, we’ve partnered with organizations led by the autistic community, researchers, educators, and families. And it’s ongoing—we don’t just consult once. We continue listening and evolving with each new phase of content.
Right now, we’re developing new materials focused on social inclusion in group settings—like classrooms—showing how everyone benefits when inclusion is intentional.
Kama: And we also work with expert advisors and people with lived experience. Their voices shape every part of the process, from concept to completion.
The Power of Muppets and Meaningful Messages
Tara: I love that. It sounds like such a collaborative, creative process.
Abby: It really is. Behind every episode or resource, there’s a curriculum and research team working alongside the creative producers and puppeteers. We test content before it’s released and refine it based on feedback.
Kama: Exactly. We take these big, often complex ideas and translate them into something that connects with children emotionally. The Muppets have this special way of reaching hearts and helping those lessons stick for a lifetime.
Bringing Julia to Life: Stacey Gordon’s Role
Tara: Speaking of Muppets, I heard that Stacey Gordon, who plays Julia, has a personal connection to autism.
Kama: Yes! Stacey’s son is on the spectrum, and it was very important for us to have a puppeteer with lived experience. From the very first moment she brought Julia to life, we could feel how much heart and authenticity she brought to the role.
Abby: There are even moments in the script where we simply say, “Let’s leave it to Stacey—she knows Julia best.” That trust gives Julia so much authenticity.
Julia’s Global Impact
Tara: How has Julia made an impact globally?
Abby: One of my favorite experiences was helping bring Julia to Sisimpur, the Bangladeshi version of Sesame Street. It was amazing to see how warmly the local team embraced her and adapted her story in culturally meaningful ways.
What’s Next for Julia?
Tara: That’s so inspiring! So, what’s next for Julia and Sesame Workshop’s autism work?
Abby: We’re developing new content focused on social inclusion, highlighting how Julia’s experiences in group settings—like classrooms—can be positive for everyone involved. These new videos and printables will be available soon at sesameworkshop.org/autism.
Kama: And there’s already so much available there—bilingual, free, and created with care. Our message has always been “See Amazing in All Children.” We’ll keep expanding Julia’s world, exploring more of her life, friendships, and ways of communicating.
Wrapping Up
Tara: That’s beautiful. I hope everyone listening takes a moment to visit sesameworkshop.org/autism. You’ll be amazed at the free resources for families, educators, and caregivers.
It really does take a village to support children—and Sesame Workshop is such an important part of that village.
Kama: Thank you so much for having us, Tara. It’s a privilege to serve families and providers like you who make such a difference every day.
Abby: Yes—thank you! This has been such a joy.
Tara: And happy 10th birthday to Julia!
Final Thoughts
Conversations like this remind me why representation and inclusion matter so deeply. Seeing a character like Julia on Sesame Street helps children feel seen, valued, and understood—and it helps the world learn more about autism in a way that’s joyful and kind. I’m so grateful to Kama, Abby, and the entire Sesame Workshop team for their dedication to creating content that celebrates every child’s uniqueness.
Explore all of Sesame Workshop’s autism resources and celebrate Julia’s 10th anniversary at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/autism
Listen to this podcast episode #147
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