The road has not been easy, but Samantha Damon is able to laugh today.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Samantha Damon explaning her journey as a single parent raising an autistic child.
Image: Phiri Cawe
“My child has special needs, but I never gave up.”
Those words, written as a letter from a parent to a child, appear boldly on a poster for the Rainbow Step Foundation. They capture the journey of Samantha Damon, a Lentegeur mother raising a son with autism, and the strength she discovered along the way.
For Ms Damon, becoming the mother of a child with autism was something she never imagined. She had heard about the condition, but never expected it to be part of her life.
“I was naive. You hear about autism, but you never think it will happen to you. Life doesn’t ask for permission.”
Her son, now 13, has reshaped her world. What began as fear and uncertainty became a journey of resilience, advocacy, and purpose. As a single parent, she faced emotional strain, social isolation, and constant financial pressure while trying to secure the care and support her child needed.
“It has been tough. Autism is not really understood, especially in disadvantaged communities like ours. I had to endure a lot, but I never gave up,” she said.
“Mothers carry so much, especially those raising children with special needs. Some fathers don’t understand. They dream of their sons becoming soccer players, without realising that the same child could grow up to be a doctor or a scientist.”
Instead of allowing her circumstances to defeat her, Ms Damon turned her pain into purpose. In September last year, with the help of close friends, she founded the Rainbow Step Foundation - an organisation dedicated to supporting children with special needs and their families.
She started with just three children. Her vision now is to reach many more.
“This initiative is rooted in the belief that we rise by lifting others,” she said.
“Children with special needs deserve the same opportunities, care, and recognition as anyone else in our communities.”
Today, Ms Damon is not only a mother, but an advocate. She speaks openly about autism and the need for better services, inclusion, and understanding. Through workshops and community engagement, she helps parents recognise the signs of autism and connect with support networks.
“I am proud when parents tell me they learned something through our workshops,” she said.
“Some children have even received therapy sessions for free because of the connections made there. It is hard work, but the goal has become bigger than me.”
Despite progress in awareness, she says stigma and lack of resources remain major barriers. Finding venues for workshops is a constant struggle, and funding is scarce.
“We still have a long way to go. There is stigma and many stereotypes. Advocacy must be everywhere if we want to change that,” she said.
One of her greatest concerns is the shortage of schools equipped to support children with special needs. She hopes to see more specialised centres built to give children with autism the chance to thrive.
Social media has become a lifeline, helping her connect with parents who feel alone in their journeys. Through platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram under Rainbow Step Foundation, families reach out, share stories, and find encouragement.
“My child has special needs,” she said, “but I never gave up.”
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