Who: “Sesame Street’s” Julia, the first Muppet with autism;
Maria Galarza, assistant vice president, Sesame Workshop;
Susan Nichols, associate executive director at the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center;
Karen Toussaint, assistant professor in UNT’s Department of Behavior Analysis and a researcher with the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center;
James Martin, assistant professor in UNT’s Department of Media Arts whose areas of expertise include puppetry, video games, field and studio production, editing and screenwriting
What: Community Conversation Around Autism
When: 4 - 6 p.m. Oct. 1 (Monday)
Where: Room 333 (Jade AB) in the University of North Texas Union, 1155 Union Circle, Denton
Media: Journalists interested in covering the event should contact Heather Noel at heather.noel@unt.edu or 940-369-8218
Background: The University of North Texas, in partnership with “Sesame Street,” Charter Communications and HBO, is hosting a Community Conversation Around Autism.
Three UNT faculty members will share their experiences, latest research and information about autism. They’ll be joined by Maria Galarza, assistant vice president of Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street.”
A huggable, walkaround version of “Sesame Street’s” Julia, the first Muppet with autism, will do a meet-and-greet at the event.
Attendees will learn about Julia’s creation as well as Sesame Workshop’s work to increase public understanding of autism and serve children with autism and their families.