Meet 4-year-old TahChon Mills

TahChon Mills is an energetic boy with a budding personality. The preschooler was born with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disability that is known to cause social, communication and behavioral challenges.

In part, Mills’ mother named him after herself, and as a single parent raising a special needs child, Chon said that she is determined not to allow her son to grow up to be a statistic. In spite ASD-related adversities that Mills faces every day, Chon insists that her child is destined to be great, and she is determined to be his biggest supporter and his loudest cheerleader every step of the way.

“TahChon just turned four in January of this year,” Chon explained. “He was born autistic, and up until the latter part of last year, he was nonverbal. When he started speaking, it was a milestone for our whole family,” she said, getting emotional as she shared the details. “They were actually in the process of teaching him sign language because they didn’t think he’d ever be able to talk, but now he speaks. He is still developmentally delayed, of course—but he has words.”

Chon shared that she is a part of an autism awareness group, and through it, she keeps herself informed about the realities of ASD and the limitations that it puts on people who are diagnosed with it. Despite that, she refuses to view her son as a victim, and she’s doing all she can to make sure that he doesn’t view himself as a victim either. In her opinion, disorders don’t have to cripple or silence any child.

“Even if there’s someone out there who has a kid that never speaks verbally; that does not mean they don’t have a voice,” Chon declared. “There are many celebrities out there who battle with disabilities, but they didn’t let it stop them. Look at Stevie Wonder and others like him. Their stories are the ones you hear and see because of who they are, but what about my story? What about my child? Nobody knows me. Nobody knows TahChon. But we don’t have to let this stop him either.”

Chon and Mills are the founder and co-founder, respectively, of TahChon Foundation. The foundation kicked off at the beginning of 2020 and is gradually gaining momentum. Each month, an effort is made to find one nonprofit organization for the TahChon Foundation to support, whether it is by way of a monetary donation or one wherein they are supplying necessary items to assist those who are most in need of them.

“I put the names of every nonprofit organization in Warner Robins, that I know about, in a box,” Chon said. “I let TahChon randomly pull out a name, and we donate money or supplies to whatever organization that is. We just did the Rainbow House.”

Last Sunday, TahChon Foundation held its first carwash, wherein Mills and several of his friends and supporters put their hands to work to offer the free act of kindness. Though no charge was set, many of those who came by to get their vehicles cleaned gave donations. The day’s event brought in nearly $300 of charitable funds. Every penny of it, Chon said, went to the TahChon Foundation to hold until they draw the name of the next nonprofit. The money will then be used to bless that organization.

“This is about helping people,” Chon said. “This is about bringing peace. There’s just so much aggression in the world,” she went on to say. “TahChon used to be aggressive. He still has a little bit that he’s working through, but he used to be real aggressive. He acted out because he was nonverbal and couldn’t express himself like he wanted to. When you give people a voice—when you listen to what they say; when you help them and not hurt them—it brings peace.”

According to Chon, the TahChon Foundation isn’t about drawing personal attention to Mills, nor is it just about bringing awareness to ASD. She said it’s about letting her son and his diagnosis show others a better way. “This isn’t something just to be doing out of hobby,” Chon said. “Those kids that we had out there helping with the carwash … we’re teaching them to do something meaningful with their lives. We’re telling them that whatever they do—even what they put out there on social media—let it be of great content.”

Chon pointed out that although her son’s words are still limited, she’s encouraging him to make the most of what God has given him so far. With all the life challenges and the societal stigmas that her son constantly faces, Chon said that at the tender age of four, Mills is not only co-founder of his own foundation; he is also a natural hair influencer and a brand new recording artist.

“He has a single that’s dropping on June 6 that we’re really excited about,” she revealed. Mills’ song is fittingly titled, “Lil Boss.” Additionally, his full head of natural curls has gained the attention of two hair care companies—Silk Me Kids Salon and Spa and Just Curly Cute—both for which he serves as a brand ambassador.

For its next event, TahChon Foundation is working toward organizing a peaceful protest that it hopes to schedule for Saturday, June 20. Tearfully, Chon said, “We need help to get this message across. I have a list of people and companies I’m reaching out to. I have We Care Air Conditioning, the sheriff’s department out on Carl Vincent, the fire departments at 111 N. Davis and at 100 Watson,” she itemized. “I just want them to give me at least five people from each place, if they will. I want TahChon, through the foundation, to lead a peaceful protest.”

The message this protest is aimed to get out to the community and to the world at large is simple. “Stop blaming man!” Chon exclaimed. “It’s the act, not the man. Violence against a man or a race of people isn’t the answer. We need to find a way to change the actions and change the behavior.” She went on to say, “I hope they’ll allow it. It doesn’t have to be far. I just want to walk from the Chamber of Commerce straight to the police station, and I want actual law enforcement and city officials and respected business people to make up the frontline faces of the people who will be participating.

“I don’t want this to be a black thing,” Chon stressed. “I want this to consist of Caucasians as well as Blacks and any other race or ethic group. I don’t want this to be about color; I want it to be about justice. We’re all in this together, and people need to see city officials and business owners actively participating. We need a change, and change brings change.”

Ultimately, through TahChon Foundation, Chon said “purpose” is what she wants to teach her son. She doesn’t want him using ASD or any other childhood challenge as an excuse for turning out to be anything but exceptional.

“I want him to excel. I want him to exceed,” she said. “I want him to know that his life has a purpose just like everyone else’s, and that he can make a difference too. Autism doesn’t have to stop him, and even at the age of four, TahChon is already proving that.”

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