AdFreak

With Sesame Street's Help, Ad Council Urges Autism Screenings for Kids

PSA videos were created by BBDO New York and Dieste

julia autistic character sesame street big bird — Julia, a character with autism introduced in 2017, stars in the new awareness campaign.Courtesy of HBO

Don't miss ADWEEK House at Cannes, June 16-19. Join us as we celebrate our 45th anniversary and explore the industry's now and next. RSVP.

As another school year inches closer, an Ad Council campaign is encouraging parents to have their children screened for autism.

The bilingual campaign features Julia, a muppet with autism that Sesame Street added to its cast in 2017. Through a tie-up with Autism Speaks, a research and advocacy nonprofit, and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit production company behind Sesame Street, the Ad Council is running two ads that show Julia using tools that help her better communicate with friends and family.