Day Williams Al-Mohamed

I have to admit that I’ve been a long time supporter of Sesame Street. Like many other children both in the United States and abroad, I grew up with Big Bird, Oscar, Bert and Ernie; I remember when Gordon and Susan adopted baby Miles and when Luis and Maria got married. I remember Linda as my first introduction to someone who was Deaf.

Even as an adult, I’ve loosely followed the show and the positive changes it has offered: The introduction of Elmo as someone for much younger viewers to relate to; and of Kami into the South African version , an actual HIV positive character. With one in nine South Africans who are HIV positive, Kami is a desperately needed reflection of that society.

Now, they are expanding again. This time Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces the show, is working on a DVD that will be distributed to military families. It’s designed to help injured veterans talk about their disabilities with their children.

In the new production, Rosita, a fluffy blue mop-headed muppet, is upset because her father has returned home in a wheelchair. “Sometimes I feel a little sad, because things are so different now,” Rosita says during a family outing to the park. “I wish your legs were OK, Papi, and I wish you didn’t have to go to the doctor so much. And I just wish things could go back to the way they were!” Rosita’s father tells her that although he may have changed, his love for her hasn’t.

It’s not your typical Sesame Street episode. There are no lessons in letters or numbers; the emphasis is on talking about feelings. Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said, “Sesame Street is doing something that isn’t easy for the military to tackle alone. “There is no more credible voice for 3- to 5-year-olds than the voices of Elmo … and parents trust him too.”

Sesame Street is trying to model behavior and provide the vocabulary for parents who need extra help. An additional advantage to this video is the positive messages it will send about people with disabilities in general and it’ll encourage children to grow up with a different, possibly more accepting (and inclusive) perspective regarding people with disabilities.

Below is a picture from the August 16 taping of the program with Elmo and his father Louie talking to Rosita’s father Carlos, who is in a wheelchair.

Bravo Sesame Street and Good Luck!