Speechless (2016) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Maya DiMeo is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband, Jimmy, and kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”
TV-PG • 2016 • 3 seasons
Speechless is an ABC family sitcom following the DiMeo family — chaotic, loud, fiercely loving — as they navigate life with JJ, their eldest son who has cerebral palsy and communicates through a letterboard operated by his school aide Kenneth. It ran three seasons from 2016 to 2019. The show is one of the finest portrayals of disability in American television history. Micah Fowler, who plays JJ and has cerebral palsy himself, gives the… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Speechless appropriate for kids?
Speechless is an ABC family sitcom following the DiMeo family — chaotic, loud, fiercely loving — as they navigate life with JJ, their eldest son who has cerebral palsy and communicates through a letterboard operated by his school aide Kenneth. It ran three seasons from 2016 to… Read more — free account
Content severity in Speechless Sign up for season-by-season breakdown
Sex and nudity in Speechless
Minimal. JJ's romantic interests and the sex education episode treat teen sexuality age-appropriately. Prom episodes include implied teen romance. Nothing explicit across any season. The show's frankness about JJ's sexuality as a disabled person is intentional and valuable rather than gratuitous.
Violence and gore in Speechless
Absent. Family sitcom with no meaningful violence across any season. Not a content consideration at any point.
Language in Speechless
Absent. Clean language throughout all three seasons consistent with ABC broadcast standards. Appropriate for all ages on this dimension.
Mature themes in Speechless
Speechless is one of the finest and most honest portrayals of disability in the history of American television. JJ DiMeo has cerebral palsy — he uses a letterboard to communicate and requires an aide — and the show depicts his life without sentimentality, inspiration porn, or pity. It insists consistently that JJ is a full person with ambitions, frustrations, a sense of humor, romantic desires, and opinions, and it gives those dimensions the same comedic and dramatic weight it gives its non-disabled characters…
Read more — free accountFrequently Asked Questions
Is Speechless appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Speechless is best for ages 12+. It's rated TV-PG. Speechless is an ABC family sitcom following the DiMeo family — chaotic, loud, fiercely loving — as they navigate life with JJ, their eldest son who has cerebral palsy and communicates through a letterboard operated by…
What age rating does Speechless have?
Speechless is rated TV-PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.
What is Speechless about?
Speechless is an ABC family sitcom following the DiMeo family — chaotic, loud, fiercely loving — as they navigate life with JJ, their eldest son who has cerebral palsy and communicates through a letterboard operated by his school aide Kenneth. It ran three seasons from 2016 to 2019. The show is one of the finest…
How many seasons does Speechless have?
Speechless has 3 seasons covered in this parent guide. Sign up to see a season-by-season breakdown.
Is there sex or nudity in Speechless?
Our reviewers didn't note meaningful sexual content across Speechless.
How violent is Speechless?
Violence isn't a standout concern across Speechless per our reviewers.
Is the language in Speechless appropriate for kids?
Strong language isn't flagged across Speechless.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Speechless?
Drug, alcohol, and smoking depictions are minimal across Speechless.
What mature themes appear in Speechless?
Heavy thematic material isn't a defining feature of Speechless.
Where can I read the full Speechless parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock season-by-season notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your watchlist.
Parents also checked these shows for 12-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Shows like Speechless with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense shows for families
Sign up to filter
More comedy shows with parent guides
- The Big Bang Theory parent guide
- Rick and Morty parent guide
- Wednesday parent guide
- Friends parent guide
- Sex Education parent guide
- Cobra Kai parent guide
- How I Met Your Mother parent guide
- One Piece parent guide
- The Office parent guide
- Rebelde parent guide
- Malcolm in the Middle parent guide
- Teen Wolf parent guide
Humor shows parents are checking
More shows with Bontent parent guides
- Dragon Ball GT parent guide
- The Langoliers parent guide
- Spaced parent guide
- Happy Tree Friends parent guide
- Daria parent guide
- I Am Not an Animal parent guide
- Amor Real parent guide
- La familia P. Luche parent guide
- Soy tu dueña parent guide
- Una familia de diez parent guide
- Moses and the Ten Commandments parent guide
- Lady, la vendedora de rosas parent guide
- What Life Took From Me parent guide
- Amores verdaderos parent guide
- Amar a Muerte parent guide
- Hensuki: Are You Willing to Fall in Love With a Pervert, As Long As She's a Cutie? parent guide