On Sesame Street, friends and neighbors come from many different backgrounds.  Some are monsters, others are humans, but each one has something that makes them special. In 2017, Sesame Street welcomed a new four-year-old girl named Julia who loves to draw and play tag.  What makes Julia special is that she has autism.  Julia's friends Elmo and Abby Cadabby will tell you autism just means somethimes she does things a little bit differently, in a "Julia sort of way."  Autism certainly never stops Julia, in fact, she has already made lots of new friends on Sesame Street.  She has even introduced them to a fun new game called "boing tag." When Julia first came to Sesame Street, shop owner Alan helped explain autism to Big Bird.  He said, for Julia, it means she might not always do what you would expect.  For example, Julia may not always answer a question right away, so it helps to ask again.  She is also sensitive to loud noises like sirens and they can upset her.  Sometimes she has to go sit in a quiet place for a little white before playing again. Once Big Bird understood Julia a little better, he was excited to be her friend.  And that is what the "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children" campaign is all about – learning not all friends are the same and their differences are what make them amazing!