Taking Authority Over Autism

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Sheletta Brundidge has three children on the spectrum but that's not the only reason why she's known as The Autism Mom. Sheletta is an advocate for parents who have children with special needs and uses her family's autism journey to offer hope to others at SHElettaMakesMeLaugh.com.

takingauthorityoverautism


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 17m AVG DURATION
    • 197 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Taking Authority Over Autism

    Getting more people to become teachers...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 54:49


    On the latest episode of her autism podcast, Sheletta chats with Mikisha Nation with Teach for America about her efforts to get more people to become teachers, which is important because there is a lack of special education teachers across the country.

    Music makes a difference...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 12:06


    Sheletta shares the story about her son Daniel was non-verbal for the first five years of his life until he started singing. The mom of three autistic kids learned that the child could be taught through music. This week she chats with Shana Moses who directs a choir of dementia patients and says music motivates them to remember things that doctors, and family members think they've long forgotten.

    Twins have Autism Day at the ballpark

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 15:00


    Sheletta chats with her friends from the Minnesota Twins to let everyone know about the Autism Awareness Day at the ballpark coming up on May 28th.

    Program hopes to help wandering autistic kids

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 8:04


    Sheletta chats with her pals at the Stearns County Sheriff's Office about a new program they've implemented that hopes to make it easier to find kids on the spectrum who wander away on the latest episode of her podcast Taking Authority over Autism.

    Banyan helps people in the Phillips Neighborhood

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 10:29


    Sheletta chats with her friends at Banyan Community Center about how they help children in the Phillips Neighborhood with after school and mentoring programs and how they've got an event coming up that allows people to help them keep doing the good work.

    Wellshare Has a Wealth of Information

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 24:27


    Sheletta chats with Roxana Segura about Project Salud, a program through Wellshare that aims to provide information and make connections within the Hispanic community to battle opioid misuse on the latest episode of her podcast.   

    Minnesota is #1 for youth voting!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 20:25


    Sheletta talks with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about how Minnesota was able to take the top spot for youth voter turnout and more on the latest episode of her autism podcast.

    Are libraries safe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 25:50


    Sheletta chats with Dr. Artika Tyner about how drug abusers are seeking refuge in library bathrooms, putting families and children at risk.

    Sheletta Goes to Philly to Spread Awareness

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 18:16


    Sheletta joins a North Philly organization to host a special day on April 12th for kids on the spectrum and their families for Autism Awareness Month.

    The Basics of Bullying

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 15:17


    There is a free workshop for parents who have special needs kids experiencing  bullying in school. It'll teach you how to get help through your support team so that your child can have a successful and safe school year.

    What happens if budget cuts happen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 14:32


    What happens to your special needs child if budget cuts happen or the Department of Education is shut down? Sheletta chats with an expert who can help you develop a plan for your neurodivergent child.

    Sleep Better: Getting Healthy for Spring

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 15:24


    Oftentimes, parents who have kids with autism don't get much sleep because the only time they can get work done and complete chores is after their kids go to bed. Dr. Abigail Miller, Chief Medical Officer from UnitedHealthcare of Minnesota offers tips for how to sleep better and get healthy for spring.

    A college for kids with autism?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 17:19


    Sheletta tells you all about a college for kids with autism and how their annual fundraiser coming up this weekend makes it possible for more adults on the spectrum to learn to live independently successfully. 

    Celebrating trailblazers for Women's History Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 16:45


    In honor of Women's History Month, Dr. Alta DeRoo, the Chief Medical Officer at Hazleden Betty Ford talks about the challenges of being a trailblazer. She also shares how Former First Lady Betty Ford's journey continues to inspire and empower women today.

    Opioid Deaths Are on the Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 20:43


    Minnesota's drug overdose deaths dropped nearly 5% from 2022 to 2023, according to new CDC data thanks in part to education and awareness provided by organizations like Steve Rummler Hope Network.

    Acting Like a Mentor

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 17:50


    Sheletta is blown away by the performance of Nisi Collins as "Adrienne" in MIlo Imagines The World at Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis. So much so, that she asks the actress to mentor her autistic daughter who wants to be in a school play.

    Pacer Has Info on Housing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 16:09


    Sheletta chats with her friends from Pacer about housing options once adults with autism age out of school based programs and services. 

    How Yoga and Medication Can Make Your House More Peaceful

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 8:47


    Sheletta chats with her friend Shontel Booker of Dream in Color Yoga studios about how we can use yoga and medication to make our autistic children and ourselves more calm and at peace during times of stress.

    Teaching Your Autistic Child About Black History

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 14:14


    Sheletta's friend Shannon Gibney recently wrote a book that will help teach your child about the modern day civil rights struggles and the legacy of George Floyd.

    Helping Autistic Children Who Have School Avoidance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 9:02


    Students with autism sometimes struggle with school avoidance. Sheletta chats with her friends at Pacer about a free workshop that offers parents some positive intervention to help their children. 

    Transitioning Out of School Based Services with a Trade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 8:44


    Sheletta talks to the folks at Dunwoody College about the programs they have available for autistic adults who age out of school based services.

    Keeping Your Family Healthy for the Holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 20:03


    Sheletta chats with her friends at Washington County to help families stay healthy for the holidays.

    Managing the Mobile Device of Your Autistic Child

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 17:03


    Sheletta was shocked when Karen Tolkkinen took her 12 year old son's cell phone, but safety was an issue. The ladies talk about how to manage your child's mobile device so they can have fun without falling prey on the internet.

    New Indoor Playground for Kids with Autism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 21:07


    Sheletta chats with Josephine Martinez, the owner of a new indoor playground in Woodbury especially designed for kids with special needs.

    Xfinity Customers Get Wicked Perks!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 13:45


    Sheletta chats with Rachel Johnson from Comcast about how you and your family can help spread holiday cheer for those less fortunate for Christmas and how signing up to being an Xfinity Rewards customer has some Wicked perks!

    Santa Can Bring His Sleigh to Your House

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 10:24


    After years of struggling to get her autistic kids to the mall to get pictures with Santa, Sheletta met Santa Clarence. He's a Minnesota based Santa who is more than happy to visit homes and has training in how to bring a season of joy in a sensory friendly way.

    Make Sure Signatures Match on that Absentee Ballot

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 12:50


    If your autistic child is old enough to vote and chooses to the absentee option, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says it's important to make sure their signature on the ballot matches the signature on their identification, otherwise, it might get rejected.

    Finding Calm: How Yoga Helps Sheletta Cope with Raising Kids on the Spectrum

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 20:07


    Need help finding a way to relax from the stress of raising a child with special needs? Sheletta shows you how yoga is helping her stay calm and cope with the challenges of having three kids on the spectrum on the latest episode of her podcast.

    You Are Not Alone

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 16:50


    Sheletta says you don't have to feel isolated when caring for your autistic child and introduces parents to Family Voices of Minnesota, a place where they can find not just support, but friends.

    Safe Halloween Fun for Special Needs Kids

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 19:09


    Sheletta shows you how you can have a safe and fun Halloween with your special needs children.  

    Frasier Finds Ways to Help Others

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 26:17


    Sheletta chats with Diane Cross from Fraser about their upcoming gala and how folks can make a difference in the lives of young people and adults with special needs.

    Helping Parents of Kids with Disabilities Find Support

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 13:28


    Sheletta chats with Carolyn Allshouse about how Family Voices of Minnesota helps parents of kids with disabilities find their voice, and a few friends along the way.

    Your Child's Healthcare Debt Won't Go on Your Credit Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 21:33


    Kids with special needs like autism often have other health challenges which can result in increased medical costs. Sheletta talks to Senator Liz Boldon about a new Minnesota law that helps families.

    The Importance of Culturally Similar Foster Homes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 24:41


    In this week's episode, Sheletta interviews Michelle McIntosh, the Senior Social Worker for foster care in Washington County, MN to discuss the importance of culturally similar foster homes. Listen in to learn more.

    Introducing Ojibwe Culture to More Eyes and Minds

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 18:29


    New children's books celebrate the Ojibwe culture and introduce early readers with the culture and language of the people.

    How to Fight the Flu and Win

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 21:13


    Flu season is just around the corner. In this week's episode, Sheletta talks with Dr. Daniel Fick, CMO or Hy-Vee's heath and medical initiatives, who shares what you can do to help keep yourself more safe from the flu. Listen in to learn more.

    Autistic Adults Can Vote, Too

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 21:36


    Sheletta chats with her friends from Hennepin County to educate caregivers how they can help the autistic adults in their lives vote in the upcoming presidential election.  

    Your Adult Child with Autism Can Learn a Trade

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 23:37


    Sheletta chats with her friends from Summit Academy OIC about educational opportunities for adults to learn trades like construction, financial services and medical assistants. 

    A Different Name, but The Same Service: Live from the MN State Fair

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 16:09


    Live from the MN State Fair, Sheletta chats with her friends from Accra all the help they've provided for her special needs kids and the transition from PCA program to CFSS that will start happening in October and how that will impact families on the latest episode of autism her podcast.

    Teaching kids with autism through art

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 18:28


    Sheletta chats with the curator of Black Grit, an art exhibit in Minneapolis, about how kids with autism can harness the power of art to learn and to express themselves.

    Help getting your kids ready to go back to school...

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 13:29


    Washington County is helping parents get their kids ready to go back to school with a free backpack giveaway event that includes haircuts. 

    Overcoming the fear factor to get help...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 21:48


    The 988 Minnesota Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. Sheletta chats with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy professional Lambers Fisher about how Black people can get over the "fear factor" and get help when they need it.

    Making sure you have a safe home...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 19:26


    Duzong Yang with the Minnesota Department of Health tells Sheletta and her listeners how to make sure you have a safe home for your children. 

    Tap into the Metro Transit TAP program...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2024 25:12


    Sheletta chats with her friends at Metro Transit to talk about their TAP program that allows riders to get $1 rides on buses and light rail lines if they qualify.

    Low income housing units get internet access

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 25:28


    Low income housing units in St Paul will now have access to internet services thanks to a new program from Comcast. Stacy Kumar-Nelson explains to Sheletta how that will help families in underserved communities and create digital equity.

    Free preschool opens in September...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 26:47


    This September, a new Lutheran Social Service early learning center will provide high quality preschool for families in St. Paul. Sheletta makes sure all the parents on the East Side know about the center, the childcare options and the jobs that are available. 

    Sheletta chats with star from the movie Ezra

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 18:04


    Sheletta chats with William Fitzgerald, one of the stars from the movie Ezra. It's the story about a dad whose son has autism and the challenges he faces raising his special needs child. William plays the son in the film.

    Taking steps for autism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 26:21


    Sheletta chats with her friends from the Autism Society of Minnesota about their annual fundraiser and the fun things they have planned for kids on the spectrum this summer.

    Kinship support services...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2024 30:18


    Sheletta shares information about kinship support resources and services available through Lutheran Social Service so that family members and friends who take in and house folks in need can get the help they need.

    Finding success with self directed care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 25:29


    Nobody knows how to take care of your special needs child better than you do. Which is many parents find success with self directed care.

    The Saints go sensory friendly...

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 23:13


    In honor of Autism Awareness Month, the Saint Paul Saints host a sensory friendly day at the ballpark for neurodiverse fans. 

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