Verbal Communication ❌ Functional Communication ✅

Autism awareness, communication
February 16, 2026

My mother has a special way of communicating with me and my siblings, and that's been consistent throughout our lives. Without needing to say a word, she can convey messages and commands through simple gestures like snapping her fingers or intense eye contact. We've become so familiar to this unspoken language that we instantly understand what she means. This is to say that effective communication can occur without words.

Communication is simply a way to exchange information, ideas and thoughts, and this can take various forms asides being verbal. This includes, Sign Language, visual aids like Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and symbolic tools like Core Word Boards, among others.

When it comes to individuals with special needs, alternative communication methods like those stated may be necessary to supplement verbal communication. Parents should understand that when professionals recommend these alternatives, it's not a suggestion that their child will never develop verbal skills. Rather, it's a way to ensure the child can effectively communicate his/her needs and wants while verbal communication skills are still being developed.