Taking Authority Over Autism

It's the moment parents across St. Paul have all been waiting for: the renovations are done, and Hamline Library is opening again. Sheletta chats with library staff about all the cool new upgrades and even offers to do some special programming with her children's books in April for Autism Awareness Month. https://sppl.org/locations/ha/

Sheletta was so excited to learn that Fraser is opening a satellite location in Mankato. The 90-year-old, award-winning autism center is now accepting new clients aged 2 to 6. Get registered:  ABA@FRASER.ORG  or CALL 612-767-7222

Jim Swift, a retired engineer, uses GoFundMe to raise enough money to build adaptive devices for autistic children in need.   https://www.hometownsource.com/stillwater_gazette/community/retired-lake-elmo-electrical-engineer-uses-skills-to-create-devices-for-children-with-disabilities/article_0bb75bb7-d800-4d5b-abce-353d628e0b38.html    

James Clark, Inspector General of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, talks about how his office is fighting fraud and working to protect taxpayer funded services.

Pacer has a unique program that brings puppets to the classroom to teach students about inclusion and acceptance. https://www.pacer.org/events/puppets/    

If you've received healthcare in Ramsey County, the place you normally get care for you and your family could have moved. They've got a new location, and Sheletta's going to tell you where, along with the new services they're offering on the latest episode of her podcast.

Help is available for families who lost a Medicare provider after Minnesota’s revalidation process. Sheletta chats with her friends from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to offer resources available to help families access the services they need.  https://mn.gov/dhs/find-care/  

Sheletta chats with her friends from Ramsey County about how important it is to test for lead in soil, in your homes, and in your children. https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/residents/health-medical/healthy-homes/lead-home https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/home/testlead.html https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead#resources-and-more-information

Sheletta chats with her friends at the Mall of America about their new artful arches that celebrate their inclusive spirit as well as their new partnership with Fraser to make the mall more accessible to all shoppers.

Benjamin E. Mays, a St. Paul public elementary school, will become Afrocentric in the fall, adopting a new progressive teaching model. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is making sure providers of high-risk Medicaid services have the right paperwork, training, and insurance on file. Over 5,500 Medicaid providers are required to go through revalidation by the end of May. If you’re one of these providers, Sheletta tells you how to follow the steps to ensure compliance and avoid missing out on funding on the latest episode...

Is your adult child with autism aging out of school-based services and needs help landing a job? Sheletta chats with Mindshift Works, a Minnesota-based organization that helps employers find wonderful workers on the spectrum.  https://mindshift.works/

If your family lives in Forest Lake, Hastings, or Stillwater and you're having a hard time finding transportation to help your autistic adult child get to work, Sheletta's found an easy solution: Transit Link! She chats with Charles Carlson about the pre-scheduled curb-to-curb on-demand rideshare service that costs only $3.50. Link: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Services/Transit-Link.asp...

Did you know that you can help prevent autism fraud? Sheletta chats with Minnesota Department of Human Services Inspector General James Clark who talks about ways to guard against it, how to protect your personal information from scammers and what to look out for when choosing an autism service provider. If your child is getting services from someone and something seems off, trust your gut and rep...

 Looking for something fun for your high-functioning autistic child to do this summer? The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers many outdoor skills programs for beginners. From overnight camping trips to fishing lessons, there's bound to be something fun and exciting for your children to enjoy. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ican/index.html

If you're looking for an opportunity to help victims of sexual violence, Ramsey County is training volunteers to staff its crisis line. Sheletta chats with Liz De La Torre to find out more about the program.

With the trauma that the Hispanic community is experiencing with Operation Metro Surge, one organization is working to address mental health, protective factors, and opioid education in a culturally responsive way. Sheletta chats with Karina Kelton of Raices Latinas Minnesota about the programs and services they provide to Washington County residents.  

Sheletta chats with Shelley Neilsen Gatti at the University of St Thomas and Annette Lee from St. Paul Public Schools about a really unique program that provides a non traditional program that creates a pathway to get more diverse teachers in the classrooms.

When Sheletta's father-in-law moved into their home, he felt alone and isolated from his friends. She wishes she had known about Friends & Co. to help him find a phone buddy to chat with to lift his spirits. Featuring Emma Lucchesi from Friends & Co., discussing the ‘Coffee Talk’ program, which connects older adults through meaningful conversation and community. 

Moms with autism oftentimes go without eating. The long days and even longer nights don't lend themselves to a sit down breakfast with the kids. Dinners can be daunting. So how do you get a nutritious, quick meal?  Sheletta found a sweet surprise in the frozen food section at her local Hy-Vee grocery store that allows busy moms to have a tasty treat!

Cannabis is legal in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean you should be lax about where you store it. Kids with autism are inquisitive and will reach for things they're not supposed to have. Sheletta talks with her friends in Minneapolis about a program that will give you a bag to lock up your goodies, free of charge, so you can keep your kiddos safe.

Sheletta chats with her friends at Steve Rummler's Hope Network about how folks in Washington County can help provide naloxone to people in need to prevent opioid overdose deaths. 

 For families in St. Louis Park who need help upgrading their homes but can't afford it, Sheletta tells you about some funding you can tap into to get it done on the latest episode of her autism podcast.

Now, 1 in 34 children in Minnesota has autism, and many school-based programs exist to help meet their needs. But at some point, they'll grow up. What happens when it's 1 in 34 elderly people on the spectrum? What's available for them then? One Minnesota-based organization, Hammer and N.E.R., has a new campaign and hopes to provide the long-term care many parents will be looking for in the future.

Sheletta chats with her friend Dee Torgerson from the Vocational Rehabilitation Office at Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development about how the program helps people with autism prepare for, find and keep a job. https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/disabilities/