ST. LOUIS - On the heels of President Trump’s announcement claiming Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to Autism, families are advocating for Autism, including a St. Louis boxing champion, Devon Alexander, who is opening up about his personal journey.

For former world champion boxer Devon Alexander, the discussion is personal. He revealed for the first time that two of his children, 8-year-old Levon and 3-year-old Leslie, are Autistic.

“I would tell parents do your own research! Nobody knows! I would say stay away from the TV, look at your son or daughter and do your own research! Look back! Think back and what did you do different. What did you do in pregnancy? Just come together as a family and talk about it,” Alexander said.

Devon says his wife did take Tylenol while pregnant, but the family doesn’t know if that played any role. Off camera, his wife explained she was told by her doctor the medicine was safe. For the Alexanders, the journey has been about learning, adapting and understanding.

The father of two says that having children with Autism taught him patience and inspired to speak out, especially to the Black community.

The World Health Organization says some studies have suggested a link between Acetaminophen use in pregnancy and Autism, but the evidence remains inconsistent. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) echoed that uncertainty, noting the FDA is reviewing research that shows both possible connections and no association at all. HHS advises doctors to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time and announced new research, including a possible safety label change.

For more information on the Alexander Foundation, visit here.