As Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month approaches this April, Dr. Delia Samuel, President of the Helen Association for Persons with Autism (HAPA), is calling upon Saint Lucian society to foster greater understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of autistic individuals. During a Wednesday news conference, Dr. Samuel connected the nation’s upcoming awareness activities to her profound personal experience as both an autism advocate and an autistic mother raising two autistic sons.
“I address you today as an autistic mother of two remarkable autistic young men. I share this identity not with sorrow, but with immense pride, joy, and boundless love,” Samuel declared, reframing the conventional narrative surrounding neurodiversity.
Samuel described her unexpected journey into autism advocacy as simultaneously challenging and transformative. “This path was never one I anticipated walking. While it represents one of life’s most difficult challenges, it has also proven to be profoundly meaningful and rewarding,” she reflected.
Like countless parents, Samuel initially struggled with her children’s diagnosis. “When my sons received their autism diagnoses, I felt my dreams for them had been shattered,” she confessed, acknowledging periods of doubt, shame, and guilt before ultimately recognizing the strengths and unique qualities of the autistic experience.
Her emotional progression moved through stages of grief, confusion, denial, fear, and significant anger. “I repeatedly questioned why I had been placed in this situation,” Samuel recalled. However, her perspective underwent a radical transformation over time: “I evolved from believing ‘I cannot do this’ to realizing ‘this is possible.’ I shifted from asking ‘why me?’ to embracing ‘why not me?’”
This personal evolution culminated in advocacy work. In 2014, Samuel documented her experiences in a book designed to encourage parents and caregivers, conveying the message that “even when odds appear overwhelming, triumph remains possible.” This foundational work inspired Saint Lucia’s first Autism Awareness Conference in October 2015, which attracted over 300 participants and marked the beginning of a larger movement.
From these efforts emerged the Helen Association for Persons with Autism (HAPA), officially registered as a non-profit in 2023. The organization’s mission focuses on advocacy, providing support and education for autistic children and families, training educators and community members, and transforming societal understanding of autism.
The association’s logo—a hibiscus flower displayed in colors inspired by Saint Lucian flag and culture—symbolizes the uniqueness of each autistic individual. This philosophy is encapsulated in HAPA’s slogan: “Embracing Uniqueness, Unlocking Potential.”
Samuel characterized autism as a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, behavior, and sensory processing, often described as an “invisible disability” because many autistic individuals appear physically typical while experiencing the world differently. She emphasized that autism exists on a spectrum with varying support needs, noting that many autistic Saint Lucians still face bullying, ridicule, and misunderstanding.
Families frequently struggle with isolation, limited support, and exhaustion while navigating a world not designed for their children. These challenges are exacerbated by stretched educational resources, scarce therapeutic services, and the invisibility of adults on the spectrum.
HAPA has implemented several initiatives over the past two years, including the Sponsor Parents Programme launched in January 2025, which connects sponsors with parents of autistic individuals to alleviate financial burdens. Five families have already benefited from this program. The organization has also conducted workshops for parents and educators covering speech and language support and caregiver self-care strategies, delivered school presentations, and produced awareness videos in both English and Kwéyòl.
April’s awareness activities, under the theme “Light it up blue for persons with autism,” include:
– April 2: World Autism Awareness Day with blue-wearing solidarity campaign
– April 18: Sensory-Friendly Health Fair offering free preventive screenings
– April 23: Educators’ Panel Discussion on inclusive classrooms
– April 25: Sports Day providing safe physical activity space
– April 30: Public Transport Panel with drivers to promote understanding
A groundbreaking cultural initiative will feature the first autistic Kiddies Carnival band with sensory-friendly accommodations, enabling autistic children to participate in one of Saint Lucia’s most celebrated cultural events.
Samuel fundamentally rejects the notion that autism requires curing: “Autism is not a disease. It is not something that needs to be cured.” Instead, she urges society to eliminate barriers preventing autistic individuals from thriving: “Autistic people do not need fixing. There’s nothing wrong with us.” She calls for addressing systemic obstacles that limit opportunities and standing with parents who advocate daily for their children.
During the news conference at Mount of Prayer in Coubaril, Sol Cares demonstrated support for HAPA’s mission with a $5,000 donation to enhance inclusion efforts for autistic children in Saint Lucia.