Taking Authority Over Autism

This week on her podcast, Sheletta tells her listeners about WayMakers, a new recovery community in Forest Lake that hopes to a strong community of support for people recovering from substance misuse. This show has been brought to you in partnership with Washington County Public Health and Environment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

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