Evening Stars Barbados pushes for autism support and inclusion

In Barbados, a quiet but powerful movement is taking shape, rooted in lived experience and determination to ensure that no family navigating autism feels alone. At the heart of this effort is Evening Stars Barbados (ESB), a nonprofit founded in 2025 by Sonia Maloney, whose journey sparked a mission to change lives.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Friday, Maloney explained the inspiration behind ESB was personal as her daughter is autistic.

Her daughter, now 13, became the catalyst for a broader vision, one that extends to other parents.

“Having a child on the autism spectrum and having to navigate the system… I have seen a few deficits. After talking to some of the parents, I found them to be real and not just an isolated case.

“It inspired me to say, ‘let me see how many people I can help navigate this’… and help them to avoid some of the pitfalls that I may have had,” Maloney said.

She explained that ESB was created to address a critical issue: the gaps in services for children with autism and their families, especially after school hours. For many families, particularly single-parent households, this gap creates immense pressure. 

ESB aims to provide practical solutions, including respite care and after-school support.

“It has caused me to reframe and rebrand my entire life… because it takes up a whole lot of time and you have to be at home.

“Evening Stars… is dedicated to supporting children with autism and their families… building practical support systems so families don’t feel alone on their journey,” Maloney maintained.

While admitting that autism awareness in Barbados had improved, she said understanding and acceptance must go further. 

“It is emerging… there are some organisations here that focus on awareness… but there is still a lot of work to be done,” she said.

She highlighted the organisation is a nonprofit and volunteer-driven, underscoring the need for broader societal support. Maloney said volunteers can contact them through social media and they are a part of Give Back Barbados. 

A key pillar of ESB is education, particularly for parents and teachers. Through monthly workshops a growing demand for guidance has been revealed. 

Through these sessions, ESB equips communities with practical tools while fostering empathy and understanding.

“Three quarters of the attendees… were teachers, and this shows us… teachers are not quite equipped to deal with it. They are hungry for the knowledge,” Maloney pointed out.

“We are very adamant about getting the information out there… reaching the people that actually need this.” 

Maloney said the next session is scheduled for April 14 at the Black Rock Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and registration is open and available via Facebook. 

For Autism Awareness Month, ESB has been reaching out to schools to speak with parents and teachers to help them understand more about autism in children. 

One of the challenges Maloney highlighted was the invisibility of many autistic children due to stigma and misunderstanding. She said that behaviours often misunderstood by the public are simply ways children regulate themselves. 

Education, especially among younger generations, is key to changing these perceptions. 

“If we can reach the younger generation… and let them know… This is how they function, and this is how you can help them,” Maloney said.

Looking forward, ESB has ambitious goals not just for children, but for entire families. 

“The hope… is to provide a respite service so that parents do not lose their independence,” she further added.

ESB also envisions economic empowerment through a cooperative model where parents who have talents can sell their tokens in the cooperative shop so that they do not lose financial independence.

On a national level, Maloney is advocating for practical and inclusive changes in schools, not just those catered to special needs children. 

“I would like to see sensory areas in all classrooms… it could be a two-desk space with some sensory objects,” she suggested.

“Inclusion is having it to say that the child gets what they need to be able to function.”

ESB also collaborates with established groups such as the Autism Association of Barbados and the Barbados Council for the Disabled to strengthen its impact. 

“We are here to support, not to compete… we are here to complement the services being offered,” Maloney maintained.

At its core, ESB is about hope, dignity, and inclusion.

Its vision states: A Barbados where every child with autism is valued, supported, and given the opportunity to shine.

And through the voice and vision of Maloney, that future feels not only possible, but already in motion. “We’re not waiting… we’re helping ourselves. We’re advocating for our communities.”