THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of Inclusion

Sara Gullihur-Bradford aka SJ Childs
  • 4.9 (21)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

🎙️ Welcome to The SJ Childs Show Podcast! 🎉 Join Sara Bradford—better known as SJ Childs—as she bridges understanding and advocacy for the neurodivergent community. This podcast shines a light on autism awareness, empowering stories, expert insights, and practical resources for parents, educators, and individuals alike. Brought to you by The SJ Childs Global Network, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting autistic individuals and their families worldwide, this show is your weekly dose of inspiration and actionable ideas. Visit sjchilds.org to learn more about our mission, find resources, and connect with our growing community. Catch us on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Goodpods—or tune in Fridays at 8:30 AM EDT on the Helium Radio Network’s Life Improvement Radio (Channel 1). Together, let’s foster a brighter, more inclusive world! 🌟 Go here to check out more resourceshttps://sjchilds.org

  1. 2H AGO

    Episode 356-Accessibility Works When We Stop Treating Disability As Defect with Daniel Hodges

    Send us Fan Mail Most people say they support accessibility, but very few can explain what it actually means or why it keeps breaking down in real life. We’re joined by Daniel Hodges, a nonprofit leader and advocate with a law degree who was born blind, to get specific about where the barriers really come from and what “equity” looks like when you strip out bias and bad design. We talk about Daniel’s childhood in rural America, where the focus stayed on future cures and risky procedures instead of practical skills like Braille, a white cane, and assistive technology. That led to a powerful reframing: disability is not automatically the problem. Daniel breaks down how much of the hardship people associate with blindness is truly intrinsic, and how much comes from societal barriers like inaccessible materials, missing accommodations, stigma, and the constant pressure to prove competence. From there, we dig into what actually works. Daniel shares how small, honest conversations about disability etiquette and tools can transform community connection, and he introduces the Pieces of Me Foundation mission: education, innovative professional training, and resource connections that help dismantle misconceptions. He also explains the Access Opportunity Tour, a practical Zoom-based way for leaders to get real-time guidance on making their workplace, church, nonprofit, or website more accessible. Along the way, Daniel tells a gripping story about blind parenting, facing CPS scrutiny, and supporting a child through eye cancer treatment, plus the everyday tools he relies on, including iOS VoiceOver and mindset practices grounded in grace. If you care about disability inclusion, universal design, and accessibility that’s more than a checkbox, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone building community spaces, and leave a review with one accessibility change you want to see next. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    35 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Episode 355-What Big Behaviors Are Really Saying And How To Respond with Melissa Schulz

    Send us Fan Mail A meltdown in the grocery store. A fight over screens that spirals into yelling. A kid who seems “fine” at school and falls apart at home. When you’re parenting a neurodiverse child, a strong-willed child, or a deeply sensitive child, it can feel like the usual advice was written for a different universe. We wanted something more honest and more useful, so we sat down with Melissa Schulz, a parenting coach and BCBA who brings both professional expertise and real-life parenting experience. We get into a simple but powerful reframe: behavior is communication. If we only focus on stopping the behavior, we miss the message and often create new problems like shutdown, masking, or bigger explosions later. Melissa breaks down why kids with big feelings often need explicit emotional regulation skills, not just consequences or pep talks. We also talk about the parent side of the equation: if we’re triggered, we can’t access the best tools in the moment. Learning to regulate our own nervous system is not “extra,” it’s the foundation for co-regulation and connection. We also go practical: how to meet your child inside their interests (yes, Roblox and Minecraft count), how to make “calm down” supports actually work, and why a beautiful calm-down corner can fail without practice during calm moments. You’ll hear language to reinforce unconditional love and worth, plus a root-cause approach that stops you from “weed whacking” the same behaviors over and over. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a parent who feels stuck, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. What’s the toughest behavior you’re trying to decode right now? Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    35 min

  3. MAY 5

    Bonus Episode- Living With Neurofibromatosis Type 2 with Will Ruddell

    Send us Fan Mail A rare diagnosis can sit quietly in the background for years, until one day a scan makes it real. That’s what happened for Will Ruddell, who joins us to share his life with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a rare genetic disorder linked to slow-growing tumors in the brain, spine, and along nerves. Will grew up watching his father deal with serious medical issues, then found out at 26 that he also had NF2 after a migraine led to an MRI and life-changing answers.  We talk honestly about what happens after the words “you have tumors” land: the scramble to find the right specialists, the stress of navigating care without insurance at first, and the reality that NF2 is still not fully understood. Will explains symptoms that shaped his everyday life, including vocal cord paralysis from a neck tumor and nerve damage that affects hand and foot movement. We also get into mobility decisions, surgery timing, and why “preparing” is hard when progression looks different for everyone.  Beyond the medical side, we focus on what keeps a person steady. Will shares the role of his wife and family support, how passion and motivation help on difficult days, and where to look for NF2 resources, support groups, and research programs like the team at Moffitt Cancer Center. If you want a clearer picture of NF2 symptoms, treatment options like infusions and clinical trials, and how to show up for someone living with a rare disease, this conversation is for you.  Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories and this information. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    25 min

  4. APR 28

    Episode 353- The Art Of The Restart with Dr. Anna Levy-Warren

    Send us Fan Mail The parenting moves that look “right” on paper can fall apart in real life, especially when you’re raising a neurodivergent child with ADHD, autism, learning differences, anxiety, or executive functioning challenges. I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Anna Levy Warren to talk about the moment many families hit after testing and diagnoses: you finally have the report, but you still don’t have a roadmap for mornings, homework, emotions, and the daily friction that can wear everyone down. We get concrete about collaborative parenting, because collaboration isn’t a vague ideal, it’s a practical method. We talk through how to put the problem on the table, ask what your child needs, and build strategies with buy-in instead of battles. Dr. Warren shares why “take a breath” often fails, how modeling regulation actually teaches it, and why a simple “restart” can be a powerful repair tool after conflict. Along the way, we unpack respect, boundaries, and how to support independence without sacrificing the relationship you’re trying to protect. We also dig into learning support: how to translate neuropsychological insights into strength-based academic coaching that builds a positive academic self-concept and real metacognition. Dr. Warren explains the work of Organizational Tutors, plus a practical ritual you can try immediately: a weekly family calendar meeting that improves communication, planning, and connection. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a parent who needs a reset, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    33 min

  5. APR 21

    Episode 353- Handwriting: The Missing Link in Early Literacy with Holly Britton

    Send us Fan Mail If your child can talk for days but freezes the moment a pencil hits paper, the problem might not be “motivation” or “attention.” It might be handwriting. We sit down with educator and curriculum designer Holly Britton, founder of Squiggle Squad, to unpack why handwriting instruction is a core building block for literacy, written expression, and confident learning, especially in the early elementary years.  We get specific about what handwriting really is: a transcription skill that has to become automatic so kids can use their brain power for planning, organizing, and revising. Holly explains how fine motor skills and cognitive language skills develop together, why the brain treats writing-by-hand differently than speaking, and how overlapping literacy systems make handwriting more than a nice-to-have. We also talk directionality and why early motor patterns can lock in for years, plus a practical example that can help prevent b and d reversals by teaching consistent start points.  Then we zoom out to what developmentally appropriate learning looks like. Holly shares the Squiggle Squad approach of teaching a small set of pre-writing strokes first through gross motor play and finger tracing, before asking young kids to form letters on paper. We also tackle a real classroom issue: kids rarely see adults handwrite anymore, and screen-based “handwriting” demos often fail to model the actual tool, grip, and movement children need to copy.  If you care about early literacy, child development, fine motor skills, and practical handwriting tips for parents and teachers, you’ll leave with clear next steps and a simple chalk challenge you can do today. Subscribe, share this with a parent or educator, and leave a review with your biggest handwriting question so we can cover it next. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    34 min

  6. APR 14

    Episode 352- What Changes When You Treat Behavior As Language with Dr. Beth Long

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to lose your kid is to keep talking when what they need is to be understood. That’s why I loved this conversation with Dr. Beth Long, a licensed professional counselor and ABA therapist in Montgomery, Alabama, who brings both clinical clarity and real-parent humility to the hardest parts of family life. We get into what children actually want from parents at different ages: younger kids craving you to join them more, and teens repeating the line Dr. Beth hears constantly in her work, “My parents never listen to me.” We talk about listening without rehearsing your response, how that creates safety, and why connection is not a reward kids have to earn. Dr. Beth also shares how her own parenting “failures” shaped the practical guidance in her book Beyond Words: The Art of Effectively Communicating With Your Child, plus a preview of Beyond Emotions: The Art of Raising Resilient Children. If you’re parenting a neurodiverse child, we dig into autism communication, gestalt language learners, splintered skills, and the difference between expressive language delays and receptive language delays. We also unpack a game-based approach to emotional regulation, the idea that all feelings are welcome while not all behaviors are, and why a stronger emotion vocabulary can change your whole home. Along the way, we swap tools like Atlas of the Heart and simple feelings-map resources that make “mad” more specific and more manageable. Subscribe for more practical parenting conversations, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the support they’ve been searching for. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    41 min

  7. APR 7

    Episode 351- ADHD, Stress, And The Environments We Can Change with Roman Wyden

    Send us Fan Mail “The struggle is real, the label is not.” That line sets the tone for a deep, candid conversation with Roman Wyden, founder of the ADHD Is Over movement, as we challenge the way modern culture talks about ADHD, behavior, and so-called “disorders.” We don’t deny the pain families feel. We zoom in on what helps: naming the real struggle, reducing stress, and building environments where kids can actually function and feel safe. We talk through how ADHD has been rebranded across history, why the symptom “net” keeps widening, and what gets missed when we treat a diagnosis like destiny. Roman shares why he believes many attention and behavior challenges are driven by misfit environments and chronic stress, not broken brains. We get practical about what parents can examine beyond the prescription pad: school fit, household emotional climate, sleep, nutrition, media input, and honesty about what’s happening at home. We also dig into genetics versus epigenetics, and why hearing “it’s genetic” can quietly turn into “there’s nothing I can do.” From there, we move into emotional regulation and conscious parenting. We unpack moments like embarrassment, fear of disappointment, harsh words, and “acting out,” and we reframe them as signals rather than character flaws. We also explore a powerful definition of love: accepting your child for who they are and who they are not in any given moment, especially when things go sideways. If you’re navigating an ADHD diagnosis, questioning ADHD medication, or searching for ADHD parenting strategies that actually reduce daily stress, this conversation will give you language, perspective, and next steps. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the part that resonated most. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    58 min

  8. MAR 31

    Episode 350-Turning Loss And Survival Into A Nonprofit That Donates Comfort for All with Eric Wyatt

    Send us Fan Mail A life-changing diagnosis can make even the strongest person feel like they’re “too much” for the people they love. That single thought is what pushed Eric Wyatt to create Burden The Bear, a plush bear with a simple purpose: remind patients and families that the illness is the burden, not the person. Eric joins us from Philadelphia to share the real story behind the brand, starting with his mom’s lung cancer and the words that stayed with him long after she was gone.  Eric’s path isn’t a tidy entrepreneur origin story. After a near-fatal car accident left him with lasting injuries, chronic pain, and a long recovery, he decided survival had to mean something. We talk through how he used that turning point to bring the bears to life, how feedback from the toy industry shaped the look and feel, and why “cute and cuddly” can be a serious tool for emotional support, caregiver connection, and patient mental health.  We also get into the nonprofit side: Lifting The Burden is now an official 501(c)(3), built to partner with hospitals, community organizations, and corporate sponsors so bears can be donated where they’re needed most. You’ll hear how custom designs and sponsor logos help fund distribution, what Eric learned at events like CHOP’s autism programs, and what’s coming next, from an autism acceptance bear to “connection bears” for organ donation and transplant families, plus ideas for first responders and anti-violence work. If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more families can find it. Support the show SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST WEBSITES - Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org - The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com YOUTUBE - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow - Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou FACEBOOK - Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford - Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc - The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork - The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/ PODCAST PLATFORMS - Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC - Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291 CONTACT EMAIL - sjchildsllc@gmail.com

    27 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

🎙️ Welcome to The SJ Childs Show Podcast! 🎉 Join Sara Bradford—better known as SJ Childs—as she bridges understanding and advocacy for the neurodivergent community. This podcast shines a light on autism awareness, empowering stories, expert insights, and practical resources for parents, educators, and individuals alike. Brought to you by The SJ Childs Global Network, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting autistic individuals and their families worldwide, this show is your weekly dose of inspiration and actionable ideas. Visit sjchilds.org to learn more about our mission, find resources, and connect with our growing community. Catch us on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Goodpods—or tune in Fridays at 8:30 AM EDT on the Helium Radio Network’s Life Improvement Radio (Channel 1). Together, let’s foster a brighter, more inclusive world! 🌟 Go here to check out more resourceshttps://sjchilds.org

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