A number of celebs have spoken out on their children’s battles with autism and the latest is a star of a widely popular 90s R&B group. Shawn Stockman, one of four members of Boyz II Men, has come forward to admit that his son suffers from the illness. Speaking with CNN, Stockman says that his son Micah, 9, appeared to be functioning normally up until his first birthday when doctors gave him the diagnosis. “It was drastic because Micah was the first one to talk, the first one to walk,” he told CNN. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “One thing a man hates when it comes down to his family is not knowing what to do.”
The singer soon figured out what to do and launched a nonprofit called Micah’s Voice dedicated to helping a family in need struggling to cover the cost of living with a child with autism. “We learned through our journey with Micah just how fortunate we were, having money,” he said. “There’s no way a normal couple or a single mom could afford this.”
And while the singer says he’s fortunate to be able to afford treatment and luckily found an elementary school both his sons can attend, he admits that dealing with his child’s diagnosis is still hard.“All you want for your sons is to grow up and develop a life of their own,” he said, growing emotional. “And to know that it may not happen for my son Micah is extremely hurtful.”
Stockman is not the first celeb to talk about having an autistic child, check out other celebs who’ve launched a public battle with autism below.
–danielle canada
