Communication

Communication is how we share what we think, feel, and need with the people around us. Autistic people often communicate differently, and those differences can be missed or misread. When we slow down and pay attention, it becomes easier to understand each other and to feel less stressed along the way.

Some autistic people speak fluently, some use very few words, and some do not speak at all. Speaking is not the only way to communicate. Gestures, sounds, pictures, repeated phrases, and behaviour all carry meaning. A person who does not talk much may still understand a great deal of what is said to them.

The guides below look more closely at the many ways autistic people communicate, how communication develops over time, and the everyday approaches that help families connect.