Toni Braxton regularly updates her fans about her sons on social media. She recently took to Instagram to compliment her son Diezel on his remarkable achievement. Diezel Braxton-Lewis is the youngest son of Toni Braxton and her ex-husband, artist Keri Lewis. Diezel is a graduate from Fusion Academy in Los Angeles, a private school that merges in-person, virtual and hybrid learning.
Toni Braxton wished her son on his accomplishment, “Congrats Diezy @diezel.braxton. on signing to Wilhelmina Modeling Agency,” What makes her more proud of Diezel’s success is the fact that he has come a long way since being diagnosed with au-tism. Braxton in one of her interviews shared that Diezel was off the au-tism spectrum at the age of 13. “My youngest son, as everyone knows, my son Diezel suffers from — or I should say suffered from neuro-development disorder. I am one of the lucky parents.”
Toni insists on the importance of early diagnosis and initiating the appropriate treatments soon after the diagnosis. She says this helps in reducing symptoms and improving daily living skills. Excited over her son’s recovery she said – “Early diagnosis changes everything. I will tell you this. I will shout it from the rooftops.” My son Diezel is off the spectrum. Off the spectrum being au-tistic.”
Toni recalls the days when Diezel was diagnosed with au-tism at the early age of two. She remembers her friend, the late Susan Wright who helped her to initiate appropriate treatments for Diezel at the right time. When Diezel was diagnosed with neuro-development disorder, Susan was quick to act and recommended therapy for him. She advised Toni ‘Get him in this program. Do this, do that.’
Although Susan herself had au-tism, she helped Diezel to overcome it. Expressing her gratitude to the late Susan Wright Toni says she misses one of her finest friends who she feels hugely responsible for Diezel’s success she says “I miss her already, I mean, I can’t believe she is gone.” Although this is a neuro-development disorder, Toni feels the children suffering from the disorder just act differently from others. Remarking on their behavioral pattern she said, “No signs of au-tism, He‘s our social butterfly. He’s the one who plays with friends and hangs out all the time. Very very fortunate. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our babies. I just think they learn differently.”
Au-tism – spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental dis-or-der where an individual finds difficulties in two-way communications and social interaction. Some common symptoms are repetitive movements and behaviors, trouble in transitions, and difficulty in understanding emotions. Research says regressive aut-ism in which young children start to lose speech and social skills are more prevalent in African American children.
Early detection of neuro-development disorder would let an au-tistic child improve mentally and physically in their developmental stage. Lack of access to quality and affordability are the main reasons for late diagnosis.
