Among the many items of business on the Cottage Grove Council meeting agenda for April 21 was a proclamation dealing with autism awareness read by Council member Justin Olsen. Inspiring the Council’s proclamation in part was a book by a local Cottage Grove mother named Sheletta Brundidge about her autistic 6-year-old son, and how music became a breakthrough to helping him learn.

Formerly diagnosed as a single condition but now considered a spectrum disorder with varying levels of impairment for those who have it, autism affects communication and behavior, per the National Institute on Mental Health. People with autism often have difficulty with communication and interaction with other people, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, and “symptoms that hurt the person’s ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life.” As to the Brundidge family of Cottage Grove, it’s an experience they know all too well, as three of their four children have been diagnosed as autistic, including six-year-old Daniel.

“He was non-verbal because of his autism until he was 4 ½ years old,” Sheletta Brundidge said of her son Daniel in a video included with the Council’s Facebook update, with Daniel described at https://shelettamakesmelaugh. com/ as “an up and coming country music singer who plays the guitar.” As it turns out, music had a big role in young Daniel overcoming his verbal limitation.

“One day he walked up to me after hours and hours of therapy and just started humming the tune to ‘Old Town Road’,” she said of the song by Lil Nas X.

Featured on CBS This Morning, a video of Daniel humming Old Town Road shows the then four-and-a-half year-old not just singing, but putting words together, the first time he had been able to do so. Sheletta explained the insight that she and the family gained from this.

“Now this was not something that we taught him, this was not something that we tried to help him learn, this came naturally,” she said. “It was organic. After all the speech and occupational and ABA therapy and special education classes we realized that music is how we help him learn,” she said proudly. “After just two years of learning with music, he can read at a fourth-grade level, he can do math at a second-grade level…he can ride a bike, and he’s only six years old,” she said. “In two years music made the difference in his life.”

Sheletta and her husband decided to put their experience into an illustrated children’s book to help other parents understand the importance of music and how it might be the difference maker to help kids with autism find their speech.

“My husband and I said, ‘We’re going to put this in a book,’ and we’re going to call it ‘Daniel Finds His Voice,” she said.

The book by Sheletta Brundidge and Lily Coyle with pictures by Darcy Bell-Myers recounts the tale of how Daniel learned to communicate with words.

“I have autism and I like to sing better than I like to talk,” it has Daniel say at one point. With two solid five star ratings on Amazon, ‘Daniel Finds His Voice’ is a hit with readers.

“Perfect gift for my spectrum grandson who is non-verbal,” Cindy Misner writes, being seconded by Maribel Villanueva.

“My grandson loves it,” she says. “He sleeps with the book.”

Also by Sheletta Brundidge and Lily Coyle with pictures by Darcy Bell-Myers is a book entitled ‘Cameron Goes To School,’ about a young African-American girl with autism who is starting kindergarten. With 4.9 out of 5 stars after 69 reviews, it’s also a hit.

“I really enjoyed reading Cameron Goes to School because it highlights a child with Autism but it’s done in a way that it’s relatable to everyone,” LaTonya Land shares. “It is a story that shows all the love, support, and care that Cameron receives from so many people in her life,” she says.

Returning to the Monday Council meeting and its declaration on Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, Council member Olsen (whose eldest son is autistic) read out the declaration meant to educate and raise awareness, beginning with a definition of what autism is.

“WHEREAS, Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non-verbal communication; and WHEREAS, because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem- solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support, and in some cases, live entirely independently; and WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network notes one in 54 U.S. children has Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to the Autism Society of Minnesota, the prevalence rate for autism in the state is one in 44, the third highest rate of 11 data collection sites throughout the country; and WHEREAS, parents, educators, therapists, and caregivers here in Cottage Grove continue to help people on the autism spectrum thrive while simultaneously creating awareness and acceptance in our community through conversations, advocacy and education; and WHEREAS, the Cottage Grove mother of Daniel, a six-year-old resident in our City, has authored a book titled “Daniel Finds His Voice,” offering a unique way to help educate people about autism while sharing the power of music therapy with parents; and WHEREAS, during the month of April, we strive to promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, County of Washington, State of Minnesota, hereby proclaim the month of April to be designated as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month,” Olsen finished.

With Cottage Grove now officially on the side of Autism Awareness and Acceptance, readers can learn more (including the early signs of autism) by going to the web address https://www. autismspeaks.org.