The Video I would like to share is the new
character with autism that they added to Sesame Street which for those who may
not know is a very popular early childhood show that is on T.V. The program is
often known for its diversity and cultural awareness, but it was not until this
year that they have added a charter who is on the autism spectrum. The Sesame Street character is not only
included individuals who are on the spectrum. It is teaching parents as well as
other children about autism and how they can help children learn on the
spectrum learn and play together. I thought that this video really represented
the article that we read in class Everything You Never Wanted to Know about
Special Education ... and Were Afraid to Ask (I.D.E.A.). I thought it went along with the end of the
title everyone you wanted to know but were afraid to ask! That is exactly right,
often parents of children who don’t have a disability are often afraid or
uncomfortable talking about another child’s disability. I often think that is,
because not enough parents know how to address the issue. I think that the
sesame place song not only teaches children how to included individuals with
disability but their parents too.
I know from firsthand experience that parents
of children with disability would rather you ask what their child’s diagnosis
was instead of ignoring them. Often parents tell their child without a
disability to quiet down if they are talking about the individual. However,
many parents of the child with a disability would rather you include there
child into the conversation. For example, I was walking a little girl into school
who is diagnosed with Rett syndrome. There was a child who was telling her dad
the child was in her class and that she can’t talk. Dad, hushed the little
girl, because he was embarrassed and did not know how to handle the situation.
We were walking in front of them and he knew that we could hear his little
girl. The sesame street song is addressing that parents should involve the
other child in the conversation and that it is okay. A better way of addressing the situation than
hushing there child would be to include the child and the child’s parents. Say
something like, yes the little girl is unable to use her voice to talk, but
that does not mean she has nothing to say. The other child diagnosed with Rett
syndrome uses a PODD- Book to help her communicate. Not being able to use your
voice is not the same as having nothing to say. I think that the sesame street
song is not only teaching children to include other but also teaching society
to include others.
Altshuler, S.
(2007). Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Special Education … and Were
Afraid to Ask (I.D.E.A.). Journal of Social Work in Disability &
Rehabilitation, 23-33.
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I think that most of the issues that we have in the society today can be effectively addressed if we get to involve all parties involved and discuss them rather than keeping mum. The introduction of the character with autism by sesame street is a great idea. Like Chloe said, parents who do not have children with any disability are uncomfortable asking questions that relates to such issues. I think they may feel that they might ask the wrong questions, or say it in a way that might be offensive to the parent that has a child with disability. And I think that is why schools, advocacy groups and organizations that are involved in these issues should include both parents of children with disabilities and those with no disability in the discussion. This might be in the form of giving them information about such disabilities or inviting them to meeting where such issues are discussed. If we can have children with disability mingle with others without disability, then it should not be too difficult involving all parents in such an important discussion.
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