'Sesame Street' to tackle autism with new muppet

Big Bird (L) and other Sesame Street puppet charactors will be joined by a new muppet named Julia who has autism. - AFP/file

Washington (AFP) - "Sesame Street" has often experimented with new ways of teaching children about social issues as well as their ABCs since its launch nearly 50 years ago. Now it's taking on a new challenge: autism.

The groundbreaking public television children's program is introducing a new character, a muppet named Julia who has autism, the show's creators revealed on the CBS News show "60 Minutes" broadcast on Sunday.