Toni Braxton Breaks Down and Cries on the View Over Autistic Son

Songstress Toni Braxton appeared on The View today in her new role as a spokesperson to raise awareness for children diagnosed with autism. It is a subject that hit very close to home, since Toni Braxton's own youngest son, Diezel, 3, was diagnosed with autism in September 2006.

"He wasn't developing like his brother was," said Braxton about the little red flags that clued her in that something was amiss with her youngest child when compared to his 5-year-old brother, Denim.

"I know you're not supposed to compare," Toni added, "but things were drastically different."

Braxton said she heard all kinds of excuses from pediatricians and doctors as she sought help to find out what was wrong with her little boy. Toni heard everything from "Oh, he's just a little delayed" to a diagnosis of verbal apraxia to hearing problems.

"We had his hearing checked twice," Braxton said, indicating that it was fine. "All different kinds of doctors were brought in...We never got an answer and I just felt something was wrong," Toni continued.

Eventually Toni and her husband received a shocking blow when Braxton tried to enroll Diezel in school. "When I got to Vegas," Toni said, "I put him in school with his brother - a private school there - but they said, 'He shouldn't be here.'"

It was the dean of the school, in fact, that told Toni to come pick up her son because he wasn't ready to attend that particular school. As for the reasons why, Toni explained: "His behavior, speech, compliance...a little bit of everything."

The popular love song crooner described her first emotions: "I didn't know what to think. You mean there's something wrong with my child?" Braxton asked herself. Then she was given a card to an organization called Child Find in Las Vegas, who eventually diagnosed Diezel with autism.

It was at this point, when Toni began describing her son's "red flag" behaviors - such as his refusal to make eye contact, limited speech, his need to always sit on the left and use a specific red plate and designated fork - that Braxton broke down in tears and covered her face and apologized.

"I'm sorry," Toni said. "I get all emotional. When you're just finding out something it takes a second to get used to it."

Rosie O'Donnell extended a comforting arm to the distraught singer, who then went on to say how helpful everyone has been to her since the diagnosis.