Tony Snell has opened up about being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 31 years old and how he's managed to power through his life with the developmental disability.
The current NBA G League player sat with TODAY's Craig Melvin for an exclusive interview about his journey with autism and using his disability to show others it's not a crutch, as many believe. According to Snell, he received his diagnosis after noticing his son Karter had missed some developmental crossroads. Snell and his wife, Ashley, took their son to a doctor who then recommended the boy get tested for autism.
Karter's diagnosis had Snell reflect on his own childhood, where he told Melvin, "I was always independent growing up, I've always been alone. ... I just couldn't connect with people (on) the personal side of things. I'm like, if (Karter) is diagnosed, then I think I am too. ... That gave me the courage to go get checked up."
Tony Snell received his diagnosis last year at 31 years of age and told TODAY he wasn't surprised by it as he always felt different from everyone else saying, "It just made my whole life, everything about my life, make so much sense."
When asked if receiving his diagnosis at a younger age would've made life different for him, Snell claimed he didn't think so because the lack of autism awareness during that time would've hindered his growth and he probably wouldn't have made it to the NBA.
"I think I (would've) probably been limited with the stuff I could probably do. ... I don't think I'd have been in the NBA if I was diagnosed with autism because back then they'd probably put a limit or cap on my abilities," Snell said.
The Los Angeles native has teamed up with the Special Olympics and started the Tony Snell Foundation to spread more autism awareness, especially to the Black and Hispanic communities where the number of children being diagnosed with the disorder has risen.
"I just want to change lives and inspire people. I want to make sure my son knows that I have his back," said Snell. "When I was a kid, I felt different ... but now I could show him that I'm right here with you, (and) we're going to ride this thing together. We're going to grow together, and we're going to accomplish a lot of things together."
