Taking Authority Over Autism

As Sheletta's oldest autistic son, Brandon, gets to the age where he can find a job, her biggest challenge is getting him there. She called her friend Barbara Bursack, a mobility manager at GoWashingtonMN.com, to explore safe transportation options and training for him.

Sheletta is so excited that her autistic kids are getting active in after school programs like theater and debate team. She's encouraging other parents to take a leap of faith and sign up their high functioning children on the spectrum for extra curricular activities. Up first: The Civics Bee! www.ymcanorth.org/locations/center_for_youth_voice/programs/national_civics_bee

There are billboards popping up all over town that say Mississippi students have better reading test scores than children in Minnesota. What in the world? If Mississippi, known for being dead last in education every year, is better than us, what is that saying about our schools? Sheletta's talking to the brilliant brain behind these viral billboards and what conversation he hopes parents will spar...

Sheletta chats with her friends at Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills about the two college communities and their upcoming merger, and how it's a win-win situation for neurodivergent students on the latest episode of her autism podcast .**Please note** The merge between the colleges is still pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission and the Minnesota State Board of Trustees.

Start the new year right by breaking some bad habits that you picked up during COVID like smoking. On this week's episode of Taking Authority over Autism, Sheletta shows you how to put down the cigarette and pick up the phone to call  Quit Partner at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. They have programs, medication and one-on-one coaching to help you break free from your nicotine addiction.  https://www.quitpartnerm...

Sheletta is trying to figure out how to get her 7th grader to theater camp and her 8th grader to debate practice while picking up her 5th grader from school all at the same time. Being a divorced parent of three kids with autism, she's got to be careful about how they get to their appointments and after-school activities. She was excited to find out about HopSkipDrive, a supplemental student trans...

Sheletta introduces her listeners to the Minnesota Autism Center Midwest, a trusted autism therapy center that serves children on the spectrum. She chats with MAC Midwest's CEO Christine Bent who has been a leader in healthcare for three decades.

 Holiday stress is hard, but you don't have to struggle alone. Sheletta chats with Jihan Ali from Hennepin County who shares information about a vital resource that offers help for you to COPE if you're in crisis mode so you can get back to living your best and healthiest life.

Black moms share their experience of fighting for fairness for their autistic children both inside and outside of their homes. Sheletta chats with Vinyarie, a fellow African American autism mom who says a library story time with her son crushed her spirit then made her a crusader for equity for neurodiverse children. 

Sheletta chats with Andrea Lawson Founder and Chief Principal Consultant of HealthEQ Solutions, where she partners with organizations to design inclusive systems, about what it looks like to provide culturally competent care to Black neurodiverse children. 

Sheletta sits down and chats with the CEO, Christy Sovereign, to get all the details. Visit https://2026specialolympicsusagames.org/ 

Sheletta chats with Dr. Ruth Lynfield with the Minnesota Department of Health about the importance of getting children vaccinated as we begin to visit family and friends for the holiday season.

Sheletta is chatting with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, about how the organization is working to erase disparities for neurodiverse children waiting to find forever homes.

Sheletta chats with Attorney Marquel Longtin with Postman Law about medical negligence during childbirth and how you can determine whether or not you have a case. To contact Postman Law, log on to their website. https://www.postmanlaw.com/

Sheletta Brundidge sits down with Peter Musimami Founder and CEO of Gumbo — a digital health platform designed to simplify and improve access to healthcare for underserved families.

Sheletta Brundidge speaks the REAL truth about WIC with Harris County WIC Field Supervisor Joy Hamilton — and why more families qualify than they realize.

On this powerful episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta Brundidge teams up with Your Path Health to tackle the growing impact of opioid use on families and communities. Together, they discuss how education, advocacy, and access to support can help prevent addiction and promote healing. Tune in for an honest, hope-filled conversation about breaking the cycle and building healthier f...

Host Sheletta Brundidge sits down with WAdvocates to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. They discuss how to support survivors, break cycles of abuse, and build safer communities. Learn more at wadvocates.org.

In this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, Sheletta Brundidge speaks with researchers from SPARK, the largest autism study ever conducted. With more than 400,000 participants nationwide, SPARK is changing how we understand autism—but there’s still work to do. Join Sheletta as she amplifies the call for inclusion in autism research and shows how every family’s story can help spark change.  

In this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta Brundidge highlights Washington County’s Parent Support Outreach Program (P.S.O.P.), a resource designed to help families access support before a crisis hits. Learn how P.S.O.P. connects parents with tools, guidance, and community to strengthen families raising children with autism and beyond.

In this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta Brundidge sits down with the team from PACER.org to talk about their upcoming Tech Expo on October 11th. Discover how innovative technology is helping families and individuals with autism gain independence, confidence, and connection. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about resources that make a real difference. #TakingAuthorityOv...

On this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta Brundidge chats with the owner of Kul Mocks, a women-owned company making delicious, ready-to-drink mocktails. They talk about how these alcohol-free beverages are creating inclusive celebrations for families who want to enjoy parties and social gatherings without the risks of alcohol. Tune in to learn how Kul Mocks is changing the way...

After seeing a spike in her blood pressure and cholesterol levels, Sheletta tapped her friends at NorthPoint Health & Wellness for tips so she could learn to eat right so she could manage diabetes and heart disease on the latest episode of her podcast. To learn about NorthPoint's services, log on to  northpointhealth.org .  

In this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta shares her personal journey as a new mom navigating the challenges of raising her firstborn. She opens up about attending Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes and how they provided the tools, support, and confidence she needed to help her child thrive. She also sits down with the ECFE team to highlight the resources availabl...

On this episode of Taking Authority Over Autism, host Sheletta Brundidge takes a hard look at the gaps in autism diagnosis.  She’s joined by a specialist from the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain to share expert insight on this topic.