Have you guys seen this?!

[nature girl]

:001_smile: :001_smile: :001_wub:

 

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/sesame-street-announces-new-character-with-185850354.html

[PeterPan]

Warning: The following is an entirely skewed, tangential, rabbit-trailing perspective that is probably not at all what AM meant.   :D

 

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I saw that on a feed somewhere.  I'm sure they got some kind of professional advice on how to present it.  I'm sorta doing a head thwack here on the article, because of the disconnect.  Even the quote in the article is really whack: kids with autism share in the joy of being part of a group, playing, loving, blah blah.  Really?  I guess if that's how socially typical people feel the need to phrase it or think through it.  I don't think any of that applies very well to my ds.  He doesn't share, does play but only his game with his rules, has extremely limited displays of affection, etc.  

 

...

But amazing, yeah I'll take that.  Our kids ARE amazing.   :D  I'm just not sure that song and pandering is going to help someone deal better with the reality of my ds, kwim?  Granted my ds needs a lot more tools, but if the point is to help the other child understand, that song alone is just all mushy sentiment, not very accurate.

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Thank you for posting this Anna's Mom. I think that is wonderful news! Too bad it didn't happen sooner, while my youngest used to watch it. As for kids on the spectrum, when accepted for who they are, many kids with HFA and Asperger's will join in. If both sides just tried to meet in the middle in their understanding and acceptance, perhaps our world would be a much more beautiful place! Both my boys interacted with us from a young age. We just had to reach out and meet them halfway.

[Guest]

By the way, puppets are very often used in play therapy. They are less intimidating and can help with self-awareness, social skills, etc.

 

https://books.google.ca/books?id=hUfIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=puppetry+and+self+awareness&source=bl&ots=3yRZYVmr82&sig=mJInFtJreNVVduVpBiHjOltpiQo&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

I am also reading a book on play therapy currently (and one on the Denver model), but read about the benefits of puppetry a few years ago. We use puppets and I crochet characters for my son. But play therapy is more of an approach that I would use, and very likely not something too many on this board would.

[Guest]

The storybook sounds really sweet! The author has an autistic son (he is older now).

 

http://autism.sesamestreet.org/storybook-we-are-amazing/

 

I think I'll show it to my youngest in the morning. He doesn't like blenders and other loud/annoying sounds either, so I know he will relate.

[Lecka]

I have not looked into it too much, but I have a great impression, b/c I also follow Autism Daddy.  

 

OhE -- I think you need to look at it as an effort to promote acceptance and reduce stereotypes.  Keep in mind your son IS already able to participate, included, etc, in his gymnastics.  Not everybody has that.  You guys may not be the exact target population, it may not be spot-on for your son, etc, etc, etc, but it can still be a good thing.  It may not be the best thing since sliced bread for you guys, though, and that is fine!  But nobody has ever said to you, "your son probably doesn't even want to do gymnastics, he has autism, don't you think it is better if you don't have him do it?" or anything like that.  Yet with some persistent stereotypes that may be something that other people hear, and I hear things along those lines at times, and they are just not applicable to my son.  I think in this case, if people whose kids are already included in typical peer activities and accepted in those activities, want to complain, you need to get some perspective about the greater autism community and not put yourself first.  And hopefully it will have some helpful thing as well, but I think -- you guys have got Sheldon from Big Bang Theory already, you are not hurting for a model of someone who may not be as interested in some social things.  Yet he is part of a group of friends, you know?  He is someone who is valued and portrayed as having value.    

 

But I have a great impression.

 

Mainly b/c I do have a great impression of Autism Daddy.  Not only that -- but that goes a long way.

 

I have seen elsewhere on Facebook, that they spoke with self-advocates from ASAN.  That seems really good, too.

 

For me, at this point, to have the ASAN connection, plus Autism Daddy, and my impression is just going to be favorable based on that.  

 

 

[nature girl]

We were talking this week about how important it is, in trying to prevent bullying, to teach kids from an early age to accept people with differences (which has been one of the main goals of Sesame Street, even from back in the days I watched it. They've always been so sensitive about portraying kids with physical and mental impairments, and they've done a great job of it.) One of the main purposes is to show NT kids how to interact, not to get into the nitty gritty because that's just too complex for the intended age group, and it might actually be detrimental to their intent of fostering empathy...If you keep in mind that Sesame Street is aimed at kids aged 2-5-ish, there's only so far they can (and should) go in explaining the internal differences. They do a good job of portraying the external differences, and getting across that kids on the spectrum have feelings, that they should be respected and accepted.

 

I went a little deeper last night because the site was making me happy...They have great videos showing different families that I think you might relate to, OhE, and I think showing Abby Cadaby's love and friendship with those kids at the end of each vid will go a long way to promoting love and acceptance.

[geodob]

Given how many infants watch Sesame Street across the world?

Could this mark a historical world wide change in understanding Autism and learning differences?

Where I would be particularly interested to know the effect it might have in Pre-School rooms?

 

 

[Guest]

I see, she is only digital! I saw this late last night and didn't realize. Still a step in the right direction though.

 

I have loved Sesame Street since I first watched it as a little girl. I learned to speak French by watching it as a 4 year old in the French speaking part of Canada when my family first moved here. They have been strong supporters of acceptance towards other cultures, color, etc. and have always done a good job in presenting all the characters with respect. I have ordered and bought their DVD's from three different continents, and also have some of their oldies from when they started out in 1969. We bought our first when my oldest was 2. My kids learned to notice other kids by watching Sesame Street and also learned how to play together by reenacting some of the funny skits with Burt and Ernie.

 

The news is already spreading around the world, like geodob said.

 

United Kingdom:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3283333/New-girl-block-Sesame-Street-introduces-autistic-character-named-Julia-autism-initiative.html

 

Australia:

http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/news-stories/sesame-street-introduces-first-autistic-character-22725

 

The Commonwealth countries, most of them countries that put great emphasis on kids programming and have developed many of their own shows, have always been strong supporters of Sesame Street.

 

The show Arthur has also had an autistic boy featured in one of their episodes. My oldest used to watch Arthur.

 

All this can go a long way in promoting acceptance, and that's the main focus here, for me. Teaching the younger generations acceptance from a young age, before they enter the school system. I applaud them for their efforts!

[Guest]

This video, from the website, had a very important message from the mom of a young boy on the spectrum. Staying in our lane... what an insightful message! Focusing on our own child(ren)'s path and not worrying where other people's kids are. We follow our own lane with our boys. It helps us rejoice with any growth we see in our boys, while also feeling very happy for any progress others at any level on the spectrum, make.

 

http://autism.sesamestreet.org/videos/meeting-unique-needs/

 

All the best!

[nature girl]

This video, from the website, had a very important message from the mom of a young boy on the spectrum. Staying in our lane... what an insightful message! Focusing on our own child(ren)'s path and not worrying where other people's kids are. We follow our own lane with our boys. It helps us rejoice with any growth we see in our boys, while also feeling very happy for any progress others at any level on the spectrum make.

 

My DD's challenges are different, but that's really so applicable for me/us as well. (Applicable to all parents actually.) Before diagnosis I was so awful about comparing and despairing that she was falling so short of what I was seeing from other kids...Even though she's improved so much in some ways, on a good day Anna still won't come close to matching most kids. But looking at how far we've come...it's amazing, really, and that's what keeps me going.

[kbutton]

I have not looked into it too much, but I have a great impression, b/c I also follow Autism Daddy.  

 

OhE -- I think you need to look at it as an effort to promote acceptance and reduce stereotypes.  Keep in mind your son IS already able to participate, included, etc, in his gymnastics.  Not everybody has that.  You guys may not be the exact target population, it may not be spot-on for your son, etc, etc, etc, but it can still be a good thing.  It may not be the best thing since sliced bread for you guys, though, and that is fine!  But nobody has ever said to you, "your son probably doesn't even want to do gymnastics, he has autism, don't you think it is better if you don't have him do it?" or anything like that.  Yet with some persistent stereotypes that may be something that other people hear, and I hear things along those lines at times, and they are just not applicable to my son.  I think in this case, if people whose kids are already included in typical peer activities and accepted in those activities, want to complain, you need to get some perspective about the greater autism community and not put yourself first.  And hopefully it will have some helpful thing as well, but I think -- you guys have got Sheldon from Big Bang Theory already, you are not hurting for a model of someone who may not be as interested in some social things.  Yet he is part of a group of friends, you know?  He is someone who is valued and portrayed as having value.    

 

I think this is well said. I was trying to think how to respond because OhElizabeth's frustrations are real (and mine as a mom of another "Sheldon" are real), but what you are saying here is too and is probably what most people think of when they see this announcement..

[WoolC]

Agreeing with Lecka and kbutton. I can see both sides of this and overall agree that it's great that Sesame Street is increasing awareness and acceptance in any form. We're in a middle of the road place where we can readily identify with the "Sheldon" type and the more classical stereotype of autism, I've experienced what Lecka is saying about people wondering if your child should even participate in activities because of his refusal to speak during them (despite the fact that he talks brilliantly about it later at home). We've had new doctors that know our diagnosis but not our child and they speak to him for the first time as if he couldn't comprehend anything they said, even in baby voices. Anything that will increase knowledge on interacting with kids on the spectrum has to help ALL of our amazing kids in the long run.

[Lecka]

I think the frustrations are real, but I don't think having a problem with the Sesame Street thing (at this point) is an appropriate focus of the frustration.

 

Like, yes, it is frustrating.  I am sorry it is frustrating.  I agree it is frustrating.

 

But maybe criticizing Sesame Street b/c you don't like the press release about it is not the best use of a feeling of frustration.

 

Maybe the Sesame Street program turns out to be pretty good in its way.  

 

I have been on the website and I have a good impression.

 

But is it going to get into a lot of the tougher issues?  No, probably not.  It also says that the target audience is ages 3 to 5.  So that is not an audience where we get into a lot of big issues.

 

Like -- when I have taught Jonah to this age group, I don't say that Jonah was fleeing from God because he didn't think Nineveh deserved to have a chance to repent.  But I don't think it is wrong to introduce the story.  It is true it is I am not telling it in all its complexity, though.  

 

But I guess I hope for an attitude of "broadly in favor while also able to recognize it is not going to be totally complex and maybe that is okay for this venue."  

 

Edit:  Separately I am curious if anyone teaches the part of the Bible where Abraham is prepared to sacrifice Isaac..... we are at this part of the Bible in Sunday School, and we did kind-of skip over it (I am not the only teacher or the main teacher).  But I can't see how it is appropriate to teach it for pre-school, but at the same time, I am sure there is a way to do it.  We completely skipped Hagar and Ishmael when we taught about how Abraham and Rebekah were blessed by God to have their son Isaac.  

 

I am feeling like, "let's move on to Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors," b/c I loved that when I was a child, though as a young child I didn't understand that Joseph's brothers were *jealous* of him for having his father's favor and the coat was a mark of his father's favor.  

 

But anyway -- I have this same kind of feeling.  Like -- we don't get mad at pre-school Sunday School for glossing over some complex issues, or at least I don't.  But it is a real issue to decide how to add on to what you present to a pre-schooler over time, and with the purpose of helping them understand the Bible as they are ready and in the best possible way.  

 

But I do not think I have a really good sense of what this is, even though I have a 10-year-old, and he is introduced to some things with more complexity now that he is older.  

 

But it is not too young for kids to learn things like "God loves us" and "God protects us" and things like that.  

 

I think that can be the same for Sesame Street having a message like "we can accept people who are different" and "some people do things in a different way."  

 

But I think when there are frustrations about Bible education, we don't really say "well, we have got to go to the pre-school level and make sure we explain things in a really complex way to them from Day One."  It is more about not staying at that level that is maybe on the fluffier side long-term.  

 

But I do really get that there are frustrations, and lots of complexities, too, and very frustrating when things get glossed over, or a happy face is painted on things that do not truly benefit from having a happy face painted over them.  

 

Edit:  I am also hoping for the best with the Sesame Street thing.  I have watched the Amazing song and it seems good to me.  I have watched some of the videos of people who worked on the project who have autistic family members.  The Amazing song was written by a sibling, and I think that is nice.  It seems like it is well-done.  

[Lecka]

Thinking about it more, I think Sheldon might stay light and funny in some ways (I don't watch the show all the time) and maybe it glosses over some problems a lot of people have, who are similar to Sheldon.  But it is a tv show, and I think it is positive.  

For me, I don't think that people see it and go "oh, people have no real problems at all, because Sheldon has no real problems at all."  

 

But probably some people just do not think about it a lot and do not know a lot about it.

 

But if they have a bit more positive reaction to someone b/c of watching The Big Bang Theory, then that is enough for it to seem overall positive to me.

 

But I think it would be a shallow representation, too, and gloss over a lot of things, and not really be realistic for a lot of people or most people.  

 

But as far as I know it doesn't lead to people going on to assume "well Sheldon does fine, so this person over here has no problems or hardships."  But if it leads to that, then that is really too bad.  

 

I can understand if that is a criticism.  I just don't think it is enough of a criticism to not like that there is a show Big Bang Theory with a character Sheldon.  

 

But my personal experience is just not of having problems minimized.  I am much more likely to feel like people judge my son from a couple of things, and make a broad assumption that is very stereotypical.