Toni Braxton's Autism PSA

Toni Braxton has made an Autism Public Service Announcement video that I have embedded below.

The direct link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omdo_Ud9i9U

In the PSA she urges "All of us – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and family friends to children – must become familiar with the red flags for autism," Braxton says. "The earlier children are diagnosed and early intervention begins, the better chance a child has of a brighter future."

Toni is speaking from the experience of a mother of a child with Autism. Her son Diezel, who is now 5, is on the autism spectrum. Her PSA points people to go to Autism Speaks to learn about the signs of Autism.

Many in the Autism community take issue with the Autism Speaks organization for a variety of reasons. Regardless of my stance on Autism Speaks, I believe that Toni Braxton's PSA and message is an important one as more and more children are being diagnosed each day.

The rate of Autism is 1 in 150, in New Jersey it is 1 in 94 or as as many as 1 in 60 boys.