Autism Acceptance Month: Tommy Hilfiger and Wife Dee Shares Experience of Raising 3 Kids on the Spectrum

Beyond his famous name, Tommy Hilfiger, the founder of the American fashion brand, and his wife, Dee Hilfiger, are doting parents to seven children. They have a wealth of experience raising three kids diagnosed with autism. The couple recently opened up about parenting children with autism for Autism Acceptance Month.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Tommy said that the biggest key to raising children with autism is early intervention. He believes that parents must get their kids tested as soon as possible if they can sense that something is off with their responses, actions, and behavior.

Tommy said that one of his sons with autism suddenly stopped speaking at two years old when he used to be a bubbly toddler. When the test confirmed their worries, Tommy admitted that he and Dee were in shock.

However, after processing the shock, the father and Dee worked on getting help for their son, which he has credited as the "key to progress" for his autistic child.

Talk to Pediatricians, Other Parents

On the other hand, Dee shared that it helped their family manage their children's autism by talking to pediatricians and other parents. She said that it's important for families to get some support, even from friends who have no experience with autism, because it will make a big difference in their perception and quality of life.

In 2012, Tommy confirmed to the public that he also has a teenage daughter and a stepson with autism. When his daughter was five years old, doctors initially diagnosed her with developmental delays. However, after meeting with different specialists from Yale and Harvard, they discovered that she was on the spectrum. Despite this, Tommy's daughter thrived in a special school, per Daily Mail.

Eric Garcia, the author of "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation," said that, these days, people on the autism spectrum are in every sector of society. They may exhibit different symptoms or manifest in their unique ways, but they are part of many families, regardless of their socioeconomic status and race.

While there are no medical tests to diagnose the condition, doctors may conduct observations and other behavioral evaluations to determine if a child is on the spectrum as early as two years old. However, there are also many cases of autistic kids who may not be diagnosed until they are teenagers or adults. Nonetheless, like the Hilfigers, Garcia and other experts said that early intervention is essential.

Shifting Autism Advocacy

The Hilfiger parents' appearance on Good Morning America comes as advocates commemorate Autism Acceptance Month this April. Christopher Banks, the Autism Society of America president, said that they decided to revise the yearly commemoration's terminology from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month "to ignite change" for the affected families.

"Acceptance is when you include a person with autism in your activities or help them to develop in that community and get that sense of connection to other people," Bank said, per USA Today.

In the U.S., one in 44 kids identifies as on the spectrum, while two percent of adults have an autism disorder. Banks said that social programs and educational campaigns could open more doors of opportunities for people with autism, especially when it comes to employment.