Toni Braxton’s son was not cured of autism and it’s irresponsible for her to say so

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Dylanperr
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28 Feb 2021, 3:38 pm

As a proud autistic my opinions on a cure and prevention to autism depend on how they define it because autism varies in severity and is very complex.

Like if someone wants to cure and prevent severe autism and comorbid conditions I would fully support it and be an ardent supporter, but however if it's all of autism including higher functioning people that don't need or want a cure than I would strongly oppose it.



Dylanperr
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28 Feb 2021, 3:39 pm

somanyspoons wrote:
Its really painful for me to watch videos of these "cured" kids. At least the kids are relatively happy. But they are so obviously still on the spectrum. A trained eye can see the signs - the very strong, narrow interests, the tenency to go on and on, the subtle ways they are using their bodies. So, instead of acknowledging how well they are doing and how great it is that they are reaching out to other people, we say they aren't autistic anymore. And then what we have is a child working really hard and not getting the supports and understanding that they need.

You are right, autism is a lifelong neurological condition.



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28 Feb 2021, 4:06 pm

[First to say that no one can be cured limits Gods ability to do the miraculous so I will never say that, and the aspects that need a cure God can heal if we let Him and it is His will... But we need to ask "Did God make me as I am for a reason?"].

But lets look at things here in a down to earth way that we can address.

If there are missing brain connections which is what autism is, the only cure is to remake those connections. Therapy just hides the symptoms and can have the potential to hit much harder later in life because to program ones brain to work harder means later on one will burn out or break down completely. Those who have not been through this because they have never had issues do not realize the harm they can be doing by trying to make others appear "Normal". What is "Normal" anyway?
I take it others say they want you to be like them but it is like putting a homeless man who is homeless because of an issue in his life, and giving him a house and a car and nice clothes. It only lasts so long until he is back to being homeless again. Why? Because without the right support, he is not able to look after himself in the issues of where he was struggling in that caused him homeless in the first place (And I am not saying that one should not try to home him and do good and bless him. That is precious. I am saying that unless one can support him in the areas that he is weak, then he is not able to look after and keep the rather nice things that you have given him. Therapy can rather be like this but worse. You are first hiding the symptoms, but secondly you are forcing square pegs into round holes which only serves to hurt the pegs and damage the holes.
The therapy "Band aids" which are intended to help will harm if they are intended to make people be who they are not.

I am thinking about my past. I have had many people try to help me, but their concept of helping me was to try to make and mould me to be like a copy of them which I am not, so though their kind hearted gestures were intending to help, they were not only not working, but causing me to end up broken and hurt. They were never intending to do that. They were trying to help. It seemed to them like I was not greatful when I started to fall to pieces... To them it seemed like I was not listening to them. But if I was like them it would work. It would be good advice and their help would work, but I was not like them so the help caused friction and damaged not only me, but damaged their feelings too. No one was at fault. It was just that an approach which is right for most people does not work for those who are different.



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03 Mar 2021, 4:02 am

Given the fuzziness, arbitrariness, and inherent subjectivity of the line between ASD and non-ASD, it's really not surprising that some kids would cross the diagnostic threshold as they grow up. So, yes, there do exist some kids who are diagnosed with ASD and then get undiagnosed later.

Some relevant articles I found just now:

- Losing an autism diagnosis by Tori DeAngelis, American Psychological Association, April 2019. "It’s rare, but some children with autism spectrum disorder lose their symptoms. Psychologists are exploring why, and how these children fare long term."

- "Recovery" by the Numbers: How often do children lose an autism diagnosis? by Marina Sarris, Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Simons Simplex Community, January 27, 2016.

In many but not all cases, these kids just barely met the diagnostic criteria in the first place, and in some cases they were misdiagnosed. Also, many of these kids have high IQ's, which may mean they are good at masking.

In many but not all cases, kids who lose an ASD diagnosis are then diagnosed with some other neurological condition such as ADHD or a specific learning disability.

Also early intervention increases the likelihood that a child will be undiagnosed.


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Kalei
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24 Sep 2021, 11:28 pm

It does not mean he is cured, but it means he passed the test/evaluation. A parent who has no autistic traits herself might interpret this as cured though.



Alien99
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29 Sep 2021, 9:37 pm

Don't worry she will get her dues when he's in his 30s and he goes no contact because she won't let him be who he actually is.



sharkeatssocks
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13 May 2025, 11:19 am

ah yes. the autism has been "cured"
ridiculous



TheDandy1
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19 May 2025, 11:24 am

B19 wrote:
She also stated that she believed that autism was a punishment from God,


You See It's People's Mindsets Like These That Contribute To My Ongoing Insecurity Of Autism.


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19 May 2025, 12:12 pm

This is what apparently this thread is reacting to.
Toni Braxton Says Her Son No Longer Has Signs of Autism

Quote:
Toni Braxton made a startling announcement to the world this Wednesday.

In a sit down interview with Access Hollywood’s Kit Hoover and Nina Parker, Braxton said that her son, Diezel, 13, is no longer autistic.

“My youngest son, as everyone knows, my son Diezel suffers from – or I should say suffered from autism,” she said. “He [has] no signs of autism.”

This news may come as a surprise to many who have watched Braxton advocate for autism awareness over the past decade—Diezel was diagnosed as autistic at three years old.

In 2012 Braxton was named Global Autism Ambassador for Autism Speaks, widely lauded as the largest autism advocacy group in the nation. And now the seven-time Grammy winner says she’s “one of the lucky parents” because her son “is off the spectrum.”

Braxton, 48, credits her son’s ability to overcome his diagnosis to Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. Braxton says Wright, who died last week, gave her tips and programs that Diezel could enroll in to help him.

She now describes Diezel as a “social butterfly.”

The article mentioned Suzanne Wright had died the previous week. She died in 2016. Suzanne Wright was horrible to us. She had this to say to Pope Frances “Autism is forcing parents and caregivers to slow down the frenetic pace of our modern world and look into the eyes of our (autistic) loved ones…as Saint Francis did with the leper.”

I have not seen any evidence that Tony Braxton has commented on her son’s “Autism” since the long ago Access Hollywood interview. Since she is not talking about it anymore and doing further damage why do we have to bring it up?


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hmk66
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23 May 2025, 11:37 pm

alex wrote:
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A few days ago, Toni Braxton claimed that her son had been cured of autism. There is no way that what Braxton said is true because there is no cure for autism. While early intervention and therapy can certainly help individuals on the spectrum live productive lives, autism is a lifelong condition. By claiming otherwise, Braxton is not only spreading misinformation, she is damaging the autism community in multiple ways.

While being interviewed on Access Hollywood, Braxton said: “My youngest son, everyone knows, suffers from, or I should say, suffered from autism.” When asked to explain, she added “I’m one of ...

"I'm one of..." what?

I must think of Raun Kaufman who says the same thing of himself. Since it's a spectrum it's hard to say whether things will improve. Some people with autism improve greatly; others have a more modest improvements. But in a neurological sense, it's lifelong. In my cause there were extreme fast improvement, especially intellectually. My social improvements came much later. I have some mild sensory issues, I can live with.

In short: autism can't be cured, despite of what some people say.