As a parent with children having disabilities, I hold a deep appreciation for the significance of diverse representation in books and media. It not only enables all kids to feel a sense of belonging but also educates others on how to interact with those who may have different ways of engaging. PBS KIDS, too, acknowledges the profound impact of disability-inclusive programs and has been continuously expanding their content in multiple ways.

PBS KIDS Pioneers Change in Disability Representation

Meet ‘Carl the Collector,’ a New Autistic Lead Character

Carl the Collector made its debut just a couple of weeks ago and stands as the first PBS KIDS show to feature two lead characters with autism. Carl, the main raccoon character, delights in collecting things. His adventures with friends and family in Fuzzytown are truly captivating. Carl often openly discusses his autism with his friends.Among his friends are Sheldon, described by PBS KIDS as an empathetic beaver attuned to Carl's unique logic and worldview. Forrest is a squirrel with a tree nut allergy, often being hyperactive and impulsive. There is also Lotta the fox, another character on the autism spectrum. Including Lotta allows for a more nuanced representation of how different kids with autism can present. As PBS KIDS Senior Vice President and General Manager Sara DeWitt emphasizes, "There's a lot happening around Carl right now as the show just launched. Even his stimming on the show, the way he moves his fingers and his body language were all very intentionally designed to reflect real-life situations in kids and family's lives."To ensure the show's authenticity, PBS KIDS and the production teams of Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures assembled a production team comprising neurodiverse writers, production staff, animators, advisors, and voice talent. Carl's mannerisms were also carefully crafted. As DeWitt explains, "When you listen to Carl talk, his voice pattern and cadence differ from other characters in the show. Even when they're not explicitly discussing autism in an episode, this stands out. In our usability testing, neurodivergent kids sometimes say, 'Oh, he sounds like me.' Parents also make this connection. It's crucial that these details are consistent throughout."

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation Added to Other Shows

PBS KIDS is also making a significant impact on children who are deaf and hard of hearing by adding American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to various shows. For instance, viewers can now find episodes of Arthur with ASL interpreters. This is a goal that PBS KIDS has been working towards for years.As DeWitt mentioned, "When we launched our streaming players, we focused on incorporating captions and descriptive audio. We're continuously doing more to ensure that as many kids as possible can engage with the storytelling. All kids should be able to connect with the content."Currently, there are six 10-episode shows each with ASL interpretation. PBS KIDS, along with producers Fred Rogers Productions and GBH, collaborated closely with Bridge Multimedia and The Described and Captioned Media Program. They carefully considered aspects such as the best placement of interpreters on the screen. For example, if a three-year-old is watching and requires the interpretation, they ensured that if the interpreter is in one area of the screen while the action is in another, the interpreters would make the show come alive with their translations. They also planned for the interpreters to match the main character by wearing a similar color shirt, like in the case of Arthur where they wore similar glasses to enhance the connection.

Building in Parent Engagement Helps Kids Learn

Research indicates that kids learn more when they watch shows with their parents and engage. However, as parents, we often face challenges in finding the time to sit down and focus on a show due to various other responsibilities. PBS KIDS is well aware of this and is working on a research project in collaboration with series producers and researchers at the University of California-Irvine and Harvard University, funded by the National Science Foundation. This project takes TV engagement to a new level.For two series, Elinor Wonders Why (a preschool series) and Lyla in the Loop (for kids in kindergarten through elementary school), PBS KIDS is developing content on their digital platforms that breaks the fourth wall and prompts the viewer to respond. Once a child replies, artificial intelligence-assisted (non-generative) technology interprets the response and provides a reply based on scripts written by the creators and writers. The hope is that parents will overhear these interactions and further expand the conversation. As DeWitt states, "The findings show that kids who engage in these interactive experiences with the characters have a stronger understanding of the science concepts introduced in the episode."

Creating Sensory-Friendly Events in Communities

What sets PBS apart is its extensive network of over 330 member stations across the country. PBS KIDS works closely with these local stations to create community-specific ways to reach their audiences, including sensory-friendly events.DeWitt highlights an example: "Maryland Public Television, with its expertise in this area, worked closely with PBS KIDS creators and producers, as well as outside advisors, to create a toolkit and a map for all our stations. This allows them to organize events that are more welcoming to families who may have felt hesitant about taking their kids to a large event. Another station in North Dakota provided sensory-friendly kits to schools to be used in conjunction with Carl the Collector. These kits were distributed to teachers and special education programs. The PBS KIDS station in Alaska has also been actively involved in special education classrooms by including content from the show."In the end, all PBS KIDS content is free, and the creators want families to know that these stories are available for them. The more families utilize their excellent content, the more opportunities there are for research, learning, and the creation of stories that help kids grow and connect with the world. Carl the Collector is now accessible for online viewing and on local PBS stations.