BX boy with autism inspires national PSA
An 11-year-old Bronx boy inspired a public service announcement that is now airing across the country. Jacob Sanchez, a child with autism, and his family are helping promote awareness of the condition.
News 12 Staff
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Nov 12, 2015, 4:18 AM
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Updated 3,093 days ago
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An 11-year-old Bronx boy inspired a public service announcement that is now airing across the country.
Jacob Sanchez, a child with autism, and his family are helping promote awareness of the condition.
The ad, sponsored by Autism Speaks, shows some of the signs Jacob displayed to his parents as a 1-year-old. He received the diagnosis at 3.
He was very sensitive to lights and sounds. He also avoided looking people directly in the eye.
According to Autism Speaks, the average age of diagnosis is 4 or 5, but an early diagnosis results in earlier intervention and treatments, which doctors say can make a profound difference.
Doctors initially believed Jacob would never learn to speak, but now his parents say he rarely stops talking.
