WCCO radio host, podcaster and Minnesota’s ‘Autism Mom’ brought her advocacy to the national stage, donating Fraser sensory kits so neurodiverse families can experience the new presidential center stress-free.
“I learned the Obama Presidential Center doesn’t have sensory kits and without them, the trip to the center could be cut short for autistic guests,” Sheletta Brundidge said.
For families visiting the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the interactive screens, murals, and galleries offer an engaging journey through American democracy and the personal history of Barack and Michelle Obama. But for children on the spectrum, the bright lights, loud noises, and bustling crowds can quickly turn an exciting family outing into an overwhelming experience.
That is why Brundidge traveled to Chicago to ensure neurodiverse children do not miss out on this historic destination.
As a mother of three children diagnosed with autism at a young age and host of the Taking Authority over Autism podcast, Brundidge is widely known across Minnesota as “The Autism Mom” for her relentless and impactful advocacy. Her impressive local track record includes consulting with the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings to create permanent stadium sensory rooms, authoring four picture books featuring Black children with autism, and successfully lobbying the Minnesota legislature for specialized law enforcement training.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, Brundidge, her parents, and her children made an intergenerational trip to the Obama Presidential Center, where she donated five custom sensory kits.
“Visitors on the spectrum or people with sensory processing sensitivities need help to stay regulated,” Brundidge explained. “I know firsthand what happens without these items! We would go to ballparks and events and couldn’t stay 15 minutes because my kids would get overstimulated and melt down.”
To curate the gear, Brundidge teamed up with Fraser, Minnesota’s premier provider of autism and mental health services.
“Fraser’s sensory kits contain practical tools designed to help individuals with sensory processing differences feel more comfortable and regulated in busy or unfamiliar environments,” noted Fraser’s Mary Arneson.
The initiative struck a deeply personal chord with Michael Strautmanis, chief corporate affairs officer for the Obama Foundation, whose own son lives with autism.
“During the campaign I didn’t want to get involved in disability work because my wife and I were so stressed at home and I didn’t want to deal with it at work,” Strautmanis shared. “But I realized we have a responsibility to talk about these things to create more exposure and more opportunity, not just for our children but for all children.”
According to Strautmanis, the center integrated inclusive design principles from the ground up to welcome a diverse array of visitors.
“We don’t want people with different abilities to have different experiences. We make sure we don’t have crowded spaces; that’s why it’s hard to get a ticket,” he said. “We only let a certain number of people in so it’s not a chaotic experience.”
With the center lacking its own built-in sensory kits, Brundidge’s donation provides a vital supplementary accommodation.
“Visiting the Obama Presidential Center is a much anticipated, once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Americans,” Brundidge said. “I want it to be a comfortable memory for people of all abilities.”
For autism resources and to learn more about Brundidge’s ongoing advocacy work, visit here.
