Sheletta wants to make Obama Presidential Center more accessible

Since opening in June, the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has drawn praise for its innovative interactive exhibits. The screens, murals and galleries engage visitors as they learn about chapters in American democracy as well as the personal history of Barack and Michelle Obama.

But the crowds, noise and dynamic displays in public places can be difficult to navigate for families like Sheletta Brundidge’s, who have children with autism.

“Visitors on the spectrum or people with sensory processing sensitivities need help to stay regulated,” said Sheletta Brundidge, widely known as the ‘Autism Mom’. She learned the Obama Center doesn’t have sensory kits. “Without them, the trip to the center could be cut short for autistic guests,” said Brundidge.

That’s why she traveled to Chicago to ensure neurodiverse children do not miss out on this historic destination.

The mother of three children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age, Brundidge hosts the “Taking Authority over Autism” podcast and has numerous initiatives that have advanced public policy impacting families like hers.

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.

 “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,” Brundidge explained.

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 provided 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 shelettamakesadifference.org.