'Sesame Street' to get disabled muppet girl (archives)
Social awareness on Sesame Street
Beloved 'Rechov Sumsum' muppets help present messages of respect, equality and inclusion of children with disabilities in community
Sesame Workshop and Channel Hop! co-producers of "Rechov Sumsum," the Israeli version of the popular children's show "Sesame Street," together with Beit Issie Shapiro,
an organization which promotes the inclusion of people with special needs in society, are joining forces to change the way young children relate to peers with disabilities.
The new project will include special field events featuring the popular muppets of 'Rechov Sumsum,' and introduce Sivan, a girl muppet who is disabled and sits in a wheelchair.
The project was to be launched Monday at a festive outdoor event at the Beit Issie Shapiro "Park Haverim" (Friendship Park) in Raanana, the first disability friendly playground of its kind in Israel. Colorful and prominent new signs displaying the muppets of 'Rechov Sumsum' and messages of friendship, respect and understanding will be unveiled at the event.
In addition, a special educational kit created especially for this project will be distributed to kindergartens across the country and serve as a learning tool to raise awareness among kindergarten teachers and children about these issues. During the coming school year, the kit will be introduced in kindergartens in Raanana, where a program for the integration of children with disabilities is already being implemented by Beit Issies Shapiro, with the support of the Ted Arison Family Foundation and the Municipality of Raanana.
"Hop! viewers are the best agents of change," said Alona Abt., CEO of Hop! "Dedicated as we are to conveying messages of tolerance and pluralism, we felt it only natural to join forces with Sesame Workshop and Beit Issie Shapiro and implement this project with them."
Jean Judes, executive director of Beit Issie Shapiro, said "We are moved by Hop!'s commitment to this important social agenda. We all know how media can make a tremendous impact on attitudes and perceptions, and we applaud the addition of Sivan to the cast of 'Rechov Sumsum' muppets. This is a wonderful and creative way to convey the proper values to our young generation."
“Sesame Workshop and Channel Hop! are especially grateful to the many foundations who share a dedication to using media to educate, and who have made this season of 'Rechov Sumsum' possible,” said Daniel Labin, executive director, 'Rechov Sumsum.'
“The Ted Arison Family Foundation’s commitment to improving the lives and education of all children in Israel, represented by their five-year commitment of support for 'Rechov Sumsum' and by their dedication to Beit Issie Shapiro, has helped to make this new visionary project at the Friendship Park a reality.”
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