Hard-working, tax-paying Minnesotans with autism invite RFK Jr. to meet them at happy hour event April 23
- shelettab
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Minnesotans with autism are shaking their heads at Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and wondering how he came up with this description of autism during his first news conference as Health and Human Services Secretary: “these are kids who will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted," Kennedy said.
One of those Minnesotans with her jaw dropped is Sheletta Brundidge.
“That's a whole lie from the pit of hell,” Brundidge said. “I have a multi-million-dollar media empire. I employ a dozen people. I pay a whole lot of taxes. I have autism.”
Brundidge is also an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, author, Black activist and mother to four children, three of whom are on the spectrum.
“He just told a whole group of people they are worthless and during Autism Awareness Month,” Brundidge said.
Her autism diagnosis is recent. “I realized something was wrong when I watched the Yacht Rock documentary on HBO Max every night for an entire month,” Brundidge explained, adding she likes Michael McDonald, but not that much.
To celebrate her autism diagnosis and other hard-working, tax-paying autistic adults, Brundidge is joining forces with Fraser to host a free happy hour on Wednesday, April 23, at The Depot in Minneapolis. Fraser is the oldest and largest autism, mental health and disability provider in Minnesota.
“We hear and see so many success stories of adults with autism who own their businesses, sing on stage are married or living independent lives as productive members of our society,” said Mary Arneson, director of marketing at Fraser.
The happy hour April 23 will celebrate the successes of adults on the spectrum and parents of children on the spectrum, despite the false characterizations coming out of Washington.
“It’s statements like this that make people not want to get tested or get their children tested,” Brundidge said. “Without that diagnosis, the insurance won't pay for the therapies and prescriptions that help people on the spectrum have a better quality of life.”
Brundidge and the team at Fraser are hoping their happy hour event, which RFK Jr. is invited to attend, will remind the public that an autism diagnosis does not come with limits.
“I’m a living witness that this is not true,” said Brundidge.
The Happy Hour for Adults with Autism is Wednesday, April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Renaissance Minneapolis, The Depot, Hiawatha 1 & 2, 225 South 3rd Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis.
The event is free for participants, but an RSVP is requested. Register online at
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