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April is Autism Awareness Month, and PBS and KET are here to offer you educational resources, from the new Carl the Collector series to information on local sources of support.  

In the 37 years since National Autism Awareness Month was created in 1988, it’s become more common to know about and talk about Autism Spectrum Disorder. More schools, theaters, sports venues, and community events are offering sensory friendly activities. And last year, Carl the Collector, the first animated PBS children’s show featuring a character with autism, made its debut. 

The program follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted raccoon with autism who loves collecting things. Carl’s friends include both neurotypical and neurodiverse characters, each with different traits, behaviors, and challenges.

Young children who watch the show learn about the world from Carl’s perspective, and more importantly, that Carl and his friends play and grow together in social awareness and relationship skills. With its emphasis on empathy, the show is ideal for helping older children, as well as siblings and classmates, gain new understanding about autism and friendship.

Classroom resources tied to the series are available on PBS LearningMedia. Through Connecting with Carl: Teaching Resources, educators can find practical tips for creating supportive, neuro-affirming learning environments. 

Carl the Collector joins a number of autism resources available through PBS LearningMedia. One of the best online resources about teaching kids with autism comes from the folks at Sesame Street. As part of the Sesame Street and Autism initiative, an online educational guide for educators was developed. It offers tips on setting up a comfortable space to ease daily challenges for children with autism, plus activities that bring out each child’s strengths. 

For Kentucky resources for families of children with autism, check out KET’s Autism Video & Resource Collection. The webpage features videos about organizations across the state that help families and children, from the Appalachian Valley Autism Centers to the LifeWorks program at Western Kentucky University. 

This webpage also features a link to the 2022 KET program Understanding Autism: A KET Forum. Featuring Kentucky doctors, therapists, and educators, the program helps foster understanding about how individuals with autism perceive and interact with the world around them. Guests also discuss educational opportunities, early intervention, and how to navigate available resources.