Our big sister alissa is 11. She has her own room. My little sister has autism. She cant talk. We all get ready for school together. Some things are really hard for her like brushing her teeth and brushing her hair. It takes all three of us to do her hair. She doesnt like the way the brush feels. Elissa and i sing. I feel happy i can help. She gets a lot of attention in the morning. But my big sister and i get time with my mom and dad too. Dad is really good at putting on jewelry. He helps alissa while my mock brushes my hair. I like how she does it. Pretty. I love it. I love having my little sister. She is amazing. I think youre amazing. Hi there im here with yasenia who is full of joy at the moment. And also jasmine and elissa. Well find out how amazing their family is. What do you like best about your family . We all are equal, it doesnt matter if she has autism, my parents arent just going to focus on her and leave me and jasmine out. Hi lets have a group hug. Lets all hug. Im in the middle of love. Im in the middle of love ah, this is the best. [ applause ] well, welcome, everybody, to this standing room only crowd. I see phases in the back standing. Im jeff dunn, im the president and ceo of Sesame Workshop. Im delighted to be here and to welcome all of you to this important and wonderful event, sesame street and autism, see the amazing in all children. I want to spend a few moments with you just talking about why this event is so important, why autism is so important to Sesame Workshop. And perhaps the best way to do that is to quote, the quotes are always great. This one is from the famous american poet maya angelou. She said something once that goes to the heart of who we are and the work we do. She said its time to teach young people that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. In diversity there is beauty and there is strength. And thats really been what Sesame Workshop has been about from the very beginning. Since we first started, we have promoted this sort of expansive attitude. And we created one of the first truly racially diverse neighborhoods on television and one that featured muppets as well as humans of varying abilities. And just as importantly, varying disabilities. Our focus has really always been to help kids everywhere grow smarter and stronger and kinder. And of course that is what this initiative is all about. All three of those things. Let me just make one other observation, since were here in this wonderful space in the capitol. Kids, you know, our kids, our audience, theyre little people, theyre three feet tall, they are nonpartisan. Theyre too innocent to have bias biases, theyre too innocent to judge. It means something to be here today with all of you who represent, you know, politics as well, to have you, regardless of that, to be here from both sides of the aisle, and be here for kids. And thats an amazing thing. So we appreciate that. We welcome you. We hope you learn something from today. And we hope this is a memorable event and the beginning of a Great National conversation. So with that, let me turn it over to sherrie westin, our executive Vice President for social impact and philanthropy. And she is the one who leads this tremendous group of people that have worked on this so hard, both on this initiative and this event. And it wouldnt be possible, neither would be possible without her. Coming up, sherrie. She will be your host for the day. Come on up. Thank you. [ applause ] thank you, jeff. Thank you, jeff. And most of all, thank you for your support. He has been the biggest champion of the work, and were so grateful. But on behalf of all of my colleagues at the workshop, thank all of you for being here. To take the time to join us really means so much. The video you just saw is from sesame streets initiative, see the amazing in all children. Sesame street has a long history of this, as jeff alluded to, of looking at this issue through the lens of a child. We knew this was an issue we needed to address. We launched our initiative until the fall of 2015. And we had two very specific objectives in mind. One, to create tools and resources for families with children with autism, to make everyday moments easier. But second, we wanted to reach the public at large, to help destigmatize autism, to help increase understanding, awareness, and promote inclusion and acceptance. So this is where julia plays a critical role. So hopefully by now you have heard that julia is an adorable little 4yearold girl. Shes very curious. And she has autism. She was first created online as a digital muppet and as part of a wonderful storybook that was called see amazing one, two, three, writtenly Leslie Kimmelman who is here today, thank you, leslie. I must say, the response to this initiative and to julia herself from the Autism Community was simply amazing. And we decided that we needed to bring julia to life on sesame street. Im thrilled to say that the episode meet julia will appear monday on april 10th on hbo, on pbs, and on youtube, so we hope you tune in. [ applause ] but if you can just think for a moment that through julia we hope that children with autism will have a character they can identify with, hopefully feel less alone. But by introducing julia to her friends on the set of sesame street, we are able to raise awareness and increase understanding and to model inclusion. When big bird tries to meet julia and shes a little less responsive, abby is able to explain that just because julia may not show it in the same ways, she still wants to be your friend, she still wants to play, she still wants to be included, just like all children. I must say on a personal note that the feedback from the Autism Community is really what makes this work so very rewarding. One of my very favorite stories came from a mother who had a young daughter with autism, and she used that wonderful book, see amazing, to help explain to her daughter that like julia, she too had autism. And she responded, so im amazing too, right . So i do think that we, from all of these wonderful stories, there are so many of them, we know anecdotally that were making a difference. Im so pleased today because today we have research to support that. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share this with you, to bring together a panel of distinguished experts that well go to later, including the researchers who looked at the impact of this work. So we hope that will be a very important discussion around an issue that really does touch so many of us. But we are especially honored today to have congressman mike doyle with us from the great state of pennsylvania. And congressman doyle is serving his 12th term in congress. He serves on the house energy and Commerce Committee and is the ranking democratic member on the communications subcommittee. It was congressman doyle along with congressman smith from new jersey who founded the coalition for Autism Research and education, otherwise known as c. A. R. E. Its the first Congressional Membership Organization dedicated to autism advocacy on capitol hill. This was in 2001, i think. Today, there are 117 members of the bipartisan autism caucus which congressman doyle, along with congressman smith, still coach here. We are so grateful for your leadership on this issue and especially that you would take time to be with us today. Congressman doyle. [ applause ] good morning. This is really an exciting day, and im pleased to be here. You know, when chris smith and i got together to form the autism caucus, one of our main objectives was to educate other members of congress about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Every few years we know that we need to get back to basics about what asd looks like and what we can do to reach out to our friend and neighborhoods who live with it every day. Thats why its so important about julia and the initiative being taken on by assess amsesa workshop and sesame street. Its about taking it to the widest and most important audience out there, young kids and their parents. We announced the initiative right here in october of 2015. So its very exciting to get to meet julia today at her first public appearance a little more than one year later. See amazing was created to provide resources to families, teachers and caregivers around the country, to educate them about autism. It also includes online guides and tools to help families touched by autism overcome common challenges like brushing teeth, crossing the street, going to the supermarket. The panelists that youre going to meet here today are going to be able to speak to just how effective the see Amazing Campaign has been. So im going to turn it back over to them. But i wanted to say that im honored to be a part of this journey and im excited to get to know julia, who can represent all of the amazing kids we know with autism. Have a great day here. [ applause ] thank you so much, congressman doyle. And now im going to turn this over, so we can get started, to our moderator, Holly Robinson peete. Holly is probably best known as an accomplished actress from 21 jump street, hanging with mr. Cooper. I think perhaps her most valuable role has been that of philanthropist and advocate. After her father was diagnosed with parkinsons and her son was diagnosed with autism, she and her husband, the former nfl quarterback rodney peete, started the hollyrod foundation, dedicated to providing hope to underserved individuals and families living with parkinsons and autism. I think you can see that hollys personal experience and the significant contributions she has made to the Autism Community make her an ideal moderator for todays event. But its also worth noting that holly has a special connection to sesame street. In 1969, when sesame street first launched, her father, matt robinson, was the very first warden. I think holly even appeared on the show as a little one. So were especially pleased to have you with us today. Welcome back. Thank you. [ applause ] wow, thank you, sherrie, thank you, everyone, to everyone who had anything to do with bringing julia to us. This is such an amazing moment. As sherrie mentioned, it is a full circle moment for me. So briefly, back in 1969 i was 5 years old, and my dad came home. I was living in philly. He said, hey, i just got this great new gig. Its going to be in new york. Im going to commute back and forth. Im like, what is it . Its a childrens show. Oh, it takes place like on your block, and theres kids of all colors, and i was like, oh, good, well, good luck with that, maybe it will last. And nearly 50 years later, here i am, moderating this panel. I do have a son with autism who is the love of my life. I always like to say i wouldnt change my son for the world but i would like to change the world for my son. And thats something that i think anybody who has been touched by autism can relate to. The idea that there is a muppet, a beloved muppet who is like besties with elmo, who has autism, that is a game changer in the Autism Community. So im just so absolutely thrilled to be here. And i thank everyone from Sesame Workshop and sesame street for approaching this in a way that is so authentic. As an autism mom, this is something that is really helpful. For those of you who are not touched by autism, this is a wonderful way to educate you as well. So sesame street has a history of featuring and celebrating children of all different abilities. And now, with this new see amazing in all children initiative, theyre showing just how amazing kids with autism truly are. And coming to a better understanding about autism through the beloved sesame street friends makes it all the more accessible, and its all part of sesame streets magic. Did somebody say magic . Oh, my goodness, its my favorite fairy, lets give her a round of applause. Hi, everyone. Mwa, mwa. Youre an honorary fairy, ms. Holly. I always wanted to be a fairy. Im so glad that youre here, abby. I had to be here. I just had to come, because i want to introduce everybody to julia. Shes my my new friend. She has autism and she is amazing. Well ill bet she is. We cannot wait to meet her. Yeah, well, i tell you we do all coincidence of stuff together. We like to play games everybody be and we sing boy can julia sing. She just loves to sing. Oh wow and she is a good painter too process. Ill bet. Ill bet i cant jat to i heard a lot of your friends didnt really understand julia at first. Yeah thats true. You know but i tell what you it didnt take long for her to see how amazing she is umhum. Well, you know what we have a clip of the first time that big bird met julia. Shall we show that abby. You have that . We have that. You have that. Yes shall we show that. Thats a great idea miss holly. You stay right there show that clip ill get julia. Bye. All right. Spo you are all in for a really great treat right now. Were going to show you a little preview of julias first sesame street episode which will air april 10th. Mark your calendars right now here is your sneak peek. Here is some more paper guys. Nice. Hay welcome to sesame street. We are having some fun with finger paints. High guys high elmo. High abby. High big bird. Who is this. This is our friend julia. Hi, julia im big bird nice to meet you. Oh. Julia . Julia is just concentrating on her paining right now. You guys youre all doing a great job. Ellen, i dont think julia likes me very much. No you two are just meeting the first time. Oh, so she is shy. Oh i get that i can feel shy sometimes too. With julia its not just that. You see she has autism. She likes it when people know that. Autism. Well whats autism . Well, for julia, it means that she might not answer you right away. Yeah jewel requestia doesnt say a lot. Thats right and she may not do what you expect like give you a high five. She does things a little differently. In a julia sort of way. Oh, okay. And she is a lot of fun. Yeah. Julia likes being with her friends and she loves to play, too. Play, play. Play. You want to play now julia. Play, play, play. We can all play together. Thats a great are idea. Me too can i play. Hur big bird. So what shall we play . How about tag . I think thats a yes. Oh boy i cant believe you found that. Thats soic magical. Hey miss holly would you like to meet julia i found her. You did. Yes i did. Ive been waiting so long to meet her. Okay this is happening. Okay zwrulia. Julia. You can come out now. Here she is. My goodness. Hi. Hi julia. You know miss holly when she wont say hi right away but answer right bau are away it doesnt mean shes not happy. She likes to jump when she is happy. Excited. Excited. I told you. Well we are also so excited that youre here because weve heard so much about you julia. Wed love to learn more about you tell us the things you like to do. Oh, well as you can see she loves her little bunny fluff sistership she likes to pet him. Fluffs ter. Ic see which you can you would like fluff. And julia loves to be around people miss holly. She likes to make friends. Well, julia who are some of your friends . Friends . Friends. Elmo. Oh, well he is everybodys friend. Big bird. Oh big bird. You got to love big bird. Abby. Oh. Yeah and you know what. We like to play tickle too and tag and paint. Tickle. Tickle. Tickle. Tickle. Tickle tickle. See we have a lot of in common. Its so great i see you both have a lot in common yet both different. Yeah but you know what miss holly were all different anyway, all our friends like elmo a monster, big bird a bird im a fairy. Youre a pretty lady. And julia is kid. So were were all friends though. Thats right. Thats right. We are all friends. Im so glad youre friends. Thank you so much for being here today. Im so star struck right now you just dont even understand. Youre so sweet. Hugs. Hugs miss holly. And kiss sees the other side im from l. A. Oh jowlia and i are going to go play while you share your story. Play, play, play. Yes. Thanks for being here everybody and thanks for you being so amazing. Youre amazing too abby. Julia you are amazing thank you so much for being here. Bye. Do you want to play. Play, play. Play, play. For julia and abby. Wow. Thats a moment, guys. Can i just add a superduper quick story thats relevant . You mentioned that i was on sesame street. I did have one appearance. My father didnt want me to be on because he didnt want me to be a show busy kid see how that turned out. But he let me come on once. I had one line you i blew the one line. I was supposed to say hi gordon so i kept saying hi daddy. Maybe one day sherry ill make up for that still not over it 40 some years later. Im excited to introduce dr. Bruneau o anthony. He is the leader of the Research Team who whose work brings us together ton president dr. Anthony is the Deputy Director for the center for kmield and Human Development and the vice chair of the department of pediatrics at Georgetown University process his Research Interests range from Childrens Mental Health services to Development Cycle pathology to autism spurm zords to he received a national Mental Health institute in Mental Health services andrd he folksed his work on interventions for children with Behavioral Health and developmental challenges. So were just very glad that he is here today to present preliminary findings regarding sesame street and autism. See amazing and all children. Dr. Anthony. Thanks. Thanks holly. Its hard to follow julia and abby. But ill try to do my best. Im really proud to have been involved with working with sesame street on the evaluation of this important initiative. And i really wants to recognize the hard work of my colleagues, many of whom are in the audience today with, from the Georgetown Center for Child Development and really great clab rarity as the center for autism spectrum zords at the National Health system. So our goal in devising this evaluation was three followed we wanted to know how did parents feel about the website and the materials and its presentation and was it usel . Second, we wanted to know whether exposure to the materials increased knowledge and acceptance of asd. We also wanted to find out whether v