LAGOS — The 16th Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Autism Conference, held over two days at the MUSON Centre in Lagos under the theme 'Acceptance in Action', has called for a shift from awareness to practical support for autistic people. GTCO's Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said 16 years of advocacy had raised awareness, and the next step was helping families and communities cope. Dr Bernadette Kilo presented a framework she called the 'Three As': acknowledge, accept and act, stressing that acceptance must begin at home. Behaviour analyst Solape Azazi urged parents to focus on connecting with their children rather than constantly correcting them, and to involve siblings. Lanre Duyile, a board-certified behaviour analyst, recommended tools for tracking behaviour patterns. Speech pathologist Tomi Agboola-Odeleye recommended low-cost communication aids such as picture cards, whiteboards and sign language, as well as communication apps. Dr Torica Exume advised vocational skills assessments from age eight, fuller assessments from age 12, and free financial literacy training for autistic adults.