For parents, the experience of raising an autistic child often brings a quiet but significant shift. It can reshape daily life, influence decisions, and, over time, affect how ambitions and aspirations are held. Much of life begins to centre around creating the right support for a child to thrive.

At the same time, this journey is not only about sacrifice. Many parents speak of a changed perspective - one that values progress in different ways, rethinks traditional ideas of success, and deepens their understanding of patience, presence, and acceptance.

It is a lived experience that continues to evolve, balancing responsibility, identity, and hope for both the child and the parent.

We unpacked the lived experience of both the autistic child and the parent, how each navigates the world and how that shared journey shapes daily life with two moms who have autistic children, Kgomotso Moalusi, Founder of Active Autism & Neuro-Diversity Allyship Foundation NPC and Christinah Maragelo, Founder of Autism Foundation of South Africa and Author.