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THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of Inclusion

THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of Inclusion

By: Sara Gullihur-Bradford aka SJ Childs
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🎙️ 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 download training materials!
https://sjchilds.myshopify.com/

© 2025 THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of Inclusion
Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 324-Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Don't Define Your Child's Future-with Daniela Feldhausen
    Aug 19 2025

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    What happens when children struggle to read despite their best efforts? How can parents spot the early warning signs of dyslexia or dysgraphia? And why do millions of children continue falling behind in reading despite classroom interventions?

    Daniela Feldhausen, founder of Kids Up Reading Tutors, brings both professional expertise and transformative solutions to these pressing questions. After 25 years practicing law in Washington DC, Daniela discovered her true calling while volunteering with struggling readers at a local elementary school. This passion led her to pursue a master's degree in special education, specialized training in teaching children with dyslexia and dysgraphia, and eventually building a tutoring practice that now helps 70 children nationwide.

    The conversation reveals startling insights about how early reading difficulties can be detected—even before formal reading instruction begins. Brain scans can identify dyslexia markers in four-year-olds, and simple games like rhyming activities can help parents spot potential challenges. Daniela explains the science behind phonological awareness, the critical skill that many struggling readers lack: understanding that words consist of individual sounds that can be manipulated.

    Parents will find practical strategies they can implement immediately, from car games that build sound awareness to the proper use of audiobooks as a bridge to independent reading. The discussion also clarifies the often-misunderstood relationship between dyslexia (reading difficulties) and dysgraphia (writing difficulties), explaining how they frequently stem from the same underlying processing challenges.

    Perhaps most importantly, Daniela emphasizes that effective reading intervention requires frequency—tutoring once or twice weekly simply isn't enough for most struggling readers to catch up. Her innovative online tutoring model allows for the intensive, consistent support these children need, regardless of geographic location.

    Whether you're concerned about your own child's reading development or simply interested in understanding how to better support literacy in our communities, this episode provides enlightening insights and actionable solutions for helping every child discover the joy and power of reading.

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    36 mins
  • Episode 323-Beyond the Box: Celebrating Neurodiversity and Finding Freedom in Authenticity
    Aug 12 2025

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    Ever felt like your brain works differently than everyone else's? Dr. Albert Bramante invites us to celebrate these differences as superpowers rather than limitations in this enlightening conversation about neurodiversity.

    Drawing from his 22 years as a talent agent and his background in psychology, Dr. Bramante shares why he prefers the term "neurodivergent" over "on the spectrum" - it recognizes different processing styles without implying something is wrong. His personal revelation about likely having undiagnosed ADHD illustrates how understanding our unique wiring can be profoundly liberating rather than limiting.

    The discussion ventures into territory many of us struggle with - the desire to be liked by everyone. Dr. Bramante offers the refreshing perspective that "we're not meant to be everybody's cup of tea" and encourages focusing on those who celebrate rather than merely tolerate us. This shift in thinking frees us from the exhausting pursuit of universal approval and allows us to embrace our authentic selves.

    Perhaps most powerfully, Dr. Bramante challenges us to consider that history's greatest thinkers likely possessed neurodivergent traits that contributed to their exceptional perspectives. This reframing invites us to see conditions like ADHD and autism not as disorders but as different operating systems with unique capabilities that can lead to extraordinary innovation.

    The conversation also explores accountability in our responses to life's challenges. While we can't control others' actions, we have complete control over our reactions - a perspective particularly empowering for those navigating a world designed for neurotypical minds. By taking responsibility without self-blame, we reclaim our power to shape our experiences.

    Ready to embrace your unique wiring and discover how your differences might actually be your greatest strengths? Listen now and join the conversation about celebrating neurodiversity in all its forms.

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    33 mins
  • Episode 322-Empowering Neurodiverse Children Through Meditation and Mindfulness in Schools with Luminara
    Aug 5 2025

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    What if the key to transforming children's mental health wasn't found in medication or traditional therapy, but in teaching them to quiet their minds and connect with their bodies? In this eye-opening conversation with healer and educator Luminara from Manchester, UK, we discover the remarkable impact of bringing meditation, visualization, and energy work into school settings.

    Luminara's journey begins with a profound personal experience—her newborn son was pronounced dead multiple times before distance Reiki healing created what doctors called a "miracle." This transformative experience led her to discover her calling in helping neurodivergent children navigate educational systems that weren't designed for their evolving brains.

    "Every child I ask what's bothering them most says the same thing: school," Luminara reveals, highlighting the fundamental disconnect between traditional education and children's actual needs. Through her work in schools, she teaches students practical techniques for body awareness, emotional regulation, and harnessing their inner power. The results are nothing short of remarkable—anxiety levels dropping, bullying behaviors transforming, and children discovering their innate capacity for self-healing.

    Most fascinating is Luminara's perspective on neurodivergence: "Maybe it's not a problem of the few, but a fact of the whole. Our brains are changing, transforming, evolving according to our environment." This challenges us to reconsider whether we're pathologizing normal brain evolution rather than adapting our educational approaches.

    For parents and educators alike, this conversation offers practical wisdom on supporting children's emotional wellbeing. Learn how simple grounding exercises, the power of words, and energy awareness can transform children's experience of themselves and the world. As Luminara reminds us, these special children "are here for a reason"—perhaps to teach us all how to evolve our understanding of education, power, and human potential.

    Curious about bringing these transformative practices into your home or classroom? Visit tcoinfinity.com to learn more about Luminara's approach and resources.

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    36 mins
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