SEASON 17- Episode 380- A Non-Speaking Boy Finally Gets Heard In A Dream World with Author CJ Gryffi

A child who cannot speak is still full of language, and sometimes it takes a story to make the rest of us finally listen. We’re joined by CJ Gryffin, a middle school special education teacher who works with students with severe disabilities, including many non-speaking and autistic kids, and she brings that lived classroom truth into her debut novel, The Color Of Silence. We talk candidly about what “communication” actually means when speech isn’t the measure of intelligence. CJ and I dig into AAC, individualized communication styles, sensory overwhelm, and the difference between trying to fix a child versus giving them tools to navigate the world. I also share the gut-punch reality families face when schools don’t have appropriate placements, and how advocacy can turn into years of piecing together homeschooling, online learning, and life skills support. Then CJ walks us through the bold concept behind The Color Of Silence, a women’s historical fantasy set in 1930s Atlanta, before autism had a diagnosis and before neighbors, doctors, and even families had the words for what they were seeing. In her story, a dragon in the dream realm becomes the first being who can truly hear the boy, and that “being heard” transforms everything. We also get into the book’s immersive companion music, including 22 original songs and an audiobook that weaves music into the chapters. If you care about autism representation, special education, nonverbal communication, and inclusive storytelling, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find 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 —    / @sjchildsshow   Louie Lou (Cats Channel) —    / @2catslouielou   FACEBOOK Personal Profile —   / sara.gullihur.bradford   Business Page —   / sjchildsllc   The SJ Childs Global Network —   / sjchildsglobalnetwork   The SJ Childs Show —   / sjchildsshow   INSTAGRAM   / sjchildsllc   TIKTOK   / sjchildsllc   LINKEDIN   / sjchilds   PODCAST PLATFORMS Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZM... Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... CONTACT EMAIL sjchildsllc@gmail.com 00:00 Welcome And Guest Introduction 00:37 Life In A Severe Needs Classroom 03:33 Parenting And Real Communication Gaps 06:44 A Late Career Shift Into Teaching 09:14 Building A 1930s Autism Story 11:31 Dream Realm Telepathy And Being Heard 21:45 Book Events Plus Songs And Audiobook 26:31 Why Self-Publish And Why Now 31:40 Community Shoutouts And Where To Follow