We all know that representation matters, and the popular PBS KID series Work It Out Wombats! is putting that into focus with the introduction of a new character who uses a cochlear implant.
Work It Out Wombats! follows siblings Malik, Zadie, and Zeke, who live in a treehouse complex with their grandmother, Super, alongside a diverse group of animal neighbors. The trio works through everyday challenges using creativity, organization, and teamwork.
In the new season, the trio meets a new friend named Bex, who is hard of hearing. The premiere episode, “Bex Splash Fest/Mural Mayhem,” introduces viewers to her story.
After meeting Malik, Zadie, and Zeke, Bex asks them to face her while speaking so she can read their lips. She explains that while she is not deaf, she communicates using American Sign Language (ASL), which she describes as “a language you can see.” Bex also shares that she wears a hearing aid in one ear and uses a cochlear implant in the other. Zadie reacts by calling them “the coolest things I’ve seen all day.”
When Bex has to remove her implant and hearing aid to go on the waterslide with her new friends, the group has to find other non-verbal ways to communicate with her, and they make the effort to ensure she remains included rather than left out.
This episode gives parents an opportunity to talk with their children about differences, empathy, and understanding, while also introducing young viewers to people who communicate in ways they may not be familiar with.
Make sure to tune in on April 3 when the new season kicks off with new friends and adventures that only the wombats can bring to the screen.
