Three siblings, one diagnosis: early intervention helps a Minnesota family facing autism
Sheletta Brundidge spent many sleepless nights wondering why her son Brandon wasn’t speaking. The 2-year-old wouldn’t respond to or make eye contact with his parents.
Brundidge began to suspect that Brandon might have a developmental condition. She brought him to the M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic - Voyager, where M Health Fairview Pediatric Neuropsychologist Rebekah Hudock, PhD, LP evaluated and diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
After Brandon’s diagnosis, Brundidge’s two youngest children also showed signs of being on the spectrum. Her daughter Cameron and son Daniel were both diagnosed with ASD – Daniel when he was only 1-year-old, thanks to M Health Fairview’s advanced diagnostic capabilities.
“One of our clinic’s specialties is seeing very young children with developmental concerns,” said Hudock. She has been caring for Brandon, Cameron, and Daniel since 2016. “We take care to train our clinicians in identifying autism and other developmental concerns in toddlers and younger siblings of children with ASD because we know early intervention is so important.”
This fall, Voyager Clinic will relocate to the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB). Opening to patients Nov. 1, the institute will house a clinic and research facility, in addition to the Institute on Community Integration, which promotes inclusive and equitable policies for people with disabilities. The clinic will bring together specialists in psychiatry, psychology, behavioral development, neurology, and more. Together, researchers and care providers will advance new research while caring for children with pediatric development and mental health disorders.
The institute will be the first of its kind in the state, giving families like the Brundidges direct access to the care and resources they need.
Increased awareness, need for services
Autism diagnoses are rising nationwide, and Minnesota has one of the highest rates of ASD in the country. As awareness around the diagnosis grows, so does the need for services. Earlier, flexible interventions are a key support for families who are seeing longer wait times for treatment nationwide.
Early diagnosis and intervention have also greatly benefitted the Brundidge children. M Health Fairview is hoping to expand these capabilities through the multidisciplinary partnership at MIDB. The new institute, a collaboration between our health system and the University of Minnesota, will house the school’s Institute on Community Integration. Researchers at ICI have developed a virtual early intervention program for ASD, which families can access from home even before receiving a diagnosis.
