Meet Julia, New ‘Sesame Street’ Character Premiering April 10

In the Monday, April 10 episode of Sesame Street titled “Meet Julia,” viewers will be introduced to Julia, a new Muppet who happens to have autism.

Audiences can get a glimpse of Julia and be introduced to her puppeteer Stacey Gordon (who just happens to look exactly like Julia!) in this HBO “Behind the Scenes” featurette. The video takes you through a bit of the design process and how this character will be introduced during what is Autism Awareness Month.

For Gordon during the audition process, Julia especially resonated with her, as she has a son with autism.

“My son gets to see someone like him on Sesame Street,” says Gordon in the video. “And his friends get to see someone like him on Sesame Street, and get to see that they all are doing the exact same things, just he and Julia and other kids like him might do those things a little bit differently.”

The Sesame Street “Meet Julia” episode airs at 8 p.m. EST starting Monday, April 10 on HBO and HBO Family.