Experts have identified the adoption of alternative communication tools, supportive caregiving strategies and inclusive home environments as critical to improving autism acceptance and inclusion.
They spoke during their presentations at the 16th GTCO Autism Conference, themed “Acceptance in Action,” where participants stressed that communication should not be limited to speech but should embrace a range of methods that enable autistic individuals to express themselves and participate meaningfully in everyday life.
Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, Tomi Agboola-Odeleye, said augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provides practical solutions for children and adults who experience challenges with verbal communication.
She explained that AAC includes gestures, sign language, drawings, picture cards, communication boards, battery-operated speech devices and tablet-based applications, noting that these tools help individuals communicate effectively without relying solely on speech.
According to her, effective communication support does not necessarily require expensive technology, as families and educators can improvise using simple, locally available materials such as photographs, drawings and homemade picture cards.
Agboola-Odeleye encouraged caregivers to use everyday activities to build communication skills by offering visual choices during meals, routines and play, saying repeated exposure helps children connect words with objects, actions and experiences.
She demonstrated how communication devices and visual aids can gradually teach children to make choices, express needs and eventually combine words into meaningful communication.
The behavioural specialist also urged parents and educators to presume competence rather than underestimate autistic children, stressing that communication opportunities should be created regardless of a child’s current ability level.
“There are no prerequisites for introducing AAC. We should always presume competence and create opportunities for communication,” she said.
She added that communication tools should remain visible and accessible in homes and classrooms, while caregivers should consistently model their use to encourage learning.
On her part, Autism advocate and parent, Solape Azazi, said genuine acceptance begins at home, where children first learn whether they are safe, understood and valued.
She noted that autism support should move beyond awareness campaigns to practical daily actions that prioritise communication, emotional regulation and dignity.
According to her, caregivers should shift from correcting autistic behaviours to understanding the communication behind them, observing that behaviours such as avoiding eye contact, covering the ears or becoming distressed during routine changes often communicate unmet needs rather than defiance.
“What changes lives is what happens in the ordinary, repeated moments; how we speak, how we respond, how we organise routines, how we handle distress and how we create space for our children to belong without asking them to become somebody else,” she said.
Azazi advocated the use of predictable routines, visual schedules, transition cues and simple communication prompts to reduce anxiety and support participation in daily activities.
She also highlighted the importance of educating siblings about autism, saying informed family members become allies who contribute to creating an inclusive and supportive home environment.
Drawing from personal experience, she recounted using an autism-themed children’s animation to help relatives understand autism, a step she said fostered empathy and improved family support for her child.
GTCO had announced that the two-day conference will be followed by free one-on-one consultations with medical and developmental specialists from July 29 to August 1 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.
The initiative will also extend to Ghana, where a workshop will be held on August 4 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, followed by free consultations at the same venue from August 5 to 8, 2026.