THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of Inclusion

Send us Fan Mail What if “treatment-resistant” isn’t about you—it’s about the tools? We sit down with Dr. Theodore Henderson, a neurobiologist and psychiatrist, to rethink brain care for autism, TBI, depression, anxiety, and long COVID through neuroplasticity, functional imaging, and smarter energy-based therapies. Instead of labels and guesswork, we dig into how infrared light can reach mitochond...

Send us Fan Mail Dive deep into the fascinating world where regenerative agriculture meets human health with landscape architect and author Mattieu Mehuys. From his roots on a Belgian family farm to his current mission transforming farmland in the Azores, Mattieu shares how his personal journey through crisis became the catalyst for his life's purpose. The conversation reveals startling truth...

Send us Fan Mail Curiosity drives creativity in this heartfelt conversation with author Mila Maxwell, whose debut novel "Finding Lady Baltimore" emerged from a simple yet profound question: "What if something happened to me that allowed me to see her perspective?" This burning desire to understand her sister Sarah's experience with cerebral palsy ultimately became the foun...

Send us Fan Mail Kathy O'Connell opens up about her journey navigating dating while living with cerebral palsy, revealing how vulnerability and self-acceptance transformed her personal life and launched her mission to help others. As founder of Radiant Abilities, she's developed a framework that guides people with disabilities through the often challenging world of dating and relationshi...

Send us Fan Mail What if your child's seemingly unusual behaviors are actually their way of connecting with a world most of us can't see?  Catherine Crestani, leadership coach and intuitive healer with nearly two decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist, shares profound insights about the spiritual dimensions of autism that mainstream approaches often miss. Drawing from her...

Send us Fan Mail What if autism isn't a modern condition but an ancient, essential thread in human evolution? Dr. Kristen Williamson, a professional counselor diagnosed with autism at 39, takes us on a journey that challenges everything we think we know about neurodiversity. "I feel like an alien wearing a matching skin suit of a human," Dr. Williamson confesses, describing the exha...

Send us Fan Mail 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 qu...

Send us Fan Mail 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 &...

Send us Fan Mail 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 set...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when artificial intelligence meets neurodivergent thinking? Magic, innovation, and life-changing tools for those who've always felt different. Meet Derek Crager, a late-diagnosed autistic entrepreneur who spent decades feeling like "an alien here on Earth to observe" before discovering his neurotype at age 50. Now he's channeling his unique perspec...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you uncover a hidden family history that reveals both heartbreak and resilience? Janet's discovery of a banker's box filled with her brother's medical records sparked an unexpected journey into autism's troubling past and ultimately led to her powerful memoir, "The Alien Savant." Born in the 1950s when autism wasn't recognized a...

Send us Fan Mail What if you suddenly experienced the sensory challenges your autistic child faces every day? Jacki Edry's life took a dramatic turn when doctors discovered a massive tumor on her brainstem. After surgery, she woke to a transformed reality - faces appeared to melt, floors became disorienting patterns, and everyday sounds overwhelmed her completely. This remarkable conversation...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when autism representation meets reality? Kaelynn Partlow pulls back the curtain on life before, during, and after Netflix's "Love on the Spectrum" in this candid conversation about authenticity and advocacy in the public eye. Diagnosed with autism at age 10 after years of medical professionals dismissing her mother's concerns ("In the ninetie...

Send us Fan Mail Every movement matters. That's the powerful message Dr. Mark Fleming brings to his work with autistic individuals seeking to improve their physical wellness. Diagnosed with autism at age 11 due to motor and speech challenges, Dr. Fleming has transformed his personal experience into a mission that's changing lives across the autism community. The conversation reveals how...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to discover your autism at age 44? Dr. Jason Ybarra takes us on a profound journey of self-discovery that began when he noticed he could understand his autistic students in ways others couldn't. "This feels like a cozy sweater," he recalls thinking, as pieces of his own identity puzzle started falling into place. The revelation transformed Dr. Ybar...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you're passionate about cooking but can't see the ingredients? For Debra, founder of The Blind Kitchen, vision loss became the catalyst for culinary innovation rather than limitation. Debra's story begins unexpectedly – she wasn't a natural cook, growing up as one of twelve children with limited kitchen experience. When retinitis pigmentosa cl...

Send us Fan Mail "What if homeschooling didn't have to look like anyone else's version but your own?" This question frames our enlightening conversation with Linsey Knerl, veteran homeschooling mother of six and author of "Homeschool Hacks." With children ranging from 11 to 26 years old, Linsey shares how her family's "one year at a time" approach evolv...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to meaningful connections isn't trying harder to fit in, but learning how to authentically stand out? Coach Lee Hopkins transforms this question into life-changing guidance for late-diagnosed autistic adults struggling with social connections. Growing up watching sitcoms where problems resolved neatly in 30 minutes, Coach Lee assumed real relationships would f...

Send us Fan Mail Discovering you're twice exceptional—both gifted and neurodivergent—can be transformative, especially when diagnosed as an adult. In this fascinating conversation, Sara welcomes authors Deb Gennarelli and John Truitt to explore the complex world of twice exceptionality (2E) through their book "Navigating Neurodiversity." John shares his remarkable journey of being d...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your entire life changes in an instant? For Sara Freeman Smith, losing 95% of her vision wasn't the end of her story—it was the beginning of something much greater. In this profound conversation, Sara shares her remarkable journey as a disability advocate, career navigator, and author of "Turning Stones Into Gems: Learn How to Find Purpose in Your Life...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why some brilliant minds struggle with reading, writing, or math? What if the key isn't trying harder, but learning differently? Dr. Emily Levy, founder of EBL Coaching, takes us into the world of multi-sensory learning strategies that transform education for students with diverse learning needs. Drawing from her twenty-one years of experience and childhood imme...

Send us Fan Mail What does authentic autism advocacy look like when powered by faith? Ron Sandison offers a compelling answer in this thought-provoking conversation from the International Autism Summit. As a mental health professional speaking to over 30,000 people annually across 70 events worldwide, Ron brings a unique perspective shaped by his extraordinary gift—15,000 scriptures memorized word...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a simple strep throat infection triggers a devastating autoimmune response that attacks your brain? At age 13, Ethan Pompeo's life changed overnight when mysterious motor tics, compulsive behaviors, and overwhelming anxiety suddenly appeared, beginning a two-decade journey toward answers and healing. Ethan takes us through the frustrating reality of living w...

Send us Fan Mail Craig Parks transforms our understanding of connection with autistic children through the profound language of music. Drawing from his dual expertise as both a professional musician and father to an autistic son, Craig reveals how music became the bridge that helped his non-verbal toddler communicate and eventually thrive as a drummer with perfect pitch. The conversation takes us...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Gilly Kahn brings a refreshing perspective to our understanding of ADHD, particularly in women, through her dual expertise as both a clinical psychologist and someone with lived experience. Her powerful reframing of ADHD not as an attention deficit but as an "overabundance of attention" challenges conventional thinking about neurodiversity in ways that will resonate...