April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to promote a better understanding of autism and to bring people together to offer better support for those living on the autism spectrum and their families. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) “refers to a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction.”
Signs and symptoms of ASD include having difficulty making eye contact with people and becoming overly focused on an object, and trouble with verbal skills. Social interaction and communication is also more difficult for adults and children living with autism. They have trouble understanding and talking about feelings, both their own and others.
For most people on the autistic spectrum, symptoms develop in early childhood and affect their daily functioning throughout their whole life. The intensity of symptoms and level of disability varies widely with some children and adults with ASD able to function independently while others need substantial help to perform basic daily living activities.
As awareness of this condition has grown, you have probably gotten used to seeing the Autism Puzzle Piece pop up on social media and in educational campaigns. The Autism Puzzle Piece has a long history as a symbol in the Autism community, but do you truly know its history and meaning?
Origins of the Puzzle Piece
The first use of the Autism Puzzle Piece was in 1963. Gerald Gasson, a parent and board member for the National Autistic Society in London created a logo for the organization that consisted of a puzzle piece along with the image of a crying child. Because of the uniqueness of the puzzle piece as a logo, it was quickly adopted and since then the puzzle piece has become a recognizable symbol for autism across the world.
A Controversial Choice
The Autism puzzle piece, however, has stirred some controversy. Depending how its meaning is interpreted, the logo has drawn both positive and negative reactions over the years. Today the National Autistic Society logo is no longer the puzzle piece.
Those who support the use of the puzzle piece as a symbol of autism believe that it accurately represents the puzzling nature of the condition and how even today when we have a better understanding of autism than we did in the 60s, there is still much more to know.
For others, the puzzle piece symbolizes everyone coming together to support those living with autism.
On the flip side though, there are those who find the puzzle piece insulting. They believe that the puzzle piece has a negative connotation of people living with autism, suggesting that they are a mystery to figure out, lacking in some way and that they don’t fit in with the rest of society.
Then there are voices in the middle who believe that the original purpose of the logo was positive, but that it is time for a new one that focuses more on coming together to improve the lives of people living on the spectrum.
The Puzzle Piece Ribbon
The version of the Autism puzzle piece you see most often today is the Puzzle Piece Ribbon created by the Autism Society in 1999. With its different colors and combinations, for some, it better represents the diversity of people living on the autistic spectrum. Ribbons are also popular choices for other well-known causes, like the pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness.
No Real Consensus
The debate on the appropriateness of the puzzle piece as a symbol for Autism is still going strong and no real consensus has been made on whether it should stay or if a new one should be created. What is clear though is that the meaning behind the symbol still elicits strong reactions, both positive and negative.
National Autism Awareness Month
The Autism Society held the first National Autism Awareness Month in April of 1970 and it has been a little more than a decade since the United Nations General Assembly also created a World Autism Awareness Day. This year’s World Autism Awareness Day is Tuesday, April 2, 2019, with this year’s theme being “Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination”. On this day and throughout the month of April there will be fundraisers, walks and hands-on activities to promote awareness and a better understanding of life on the autism spectrum. Check with your local autism organization for a list of activities and events near you.
Today about 1 in 68 children have been diagnosed with autism, highlighting the need to do everything we can to offer better support for people living with autism and their families.
At Chaps Pit Beef, we strongly believe in being a strong community member so we are holding a special promotion to celebrate National Autism Awareness Month. Solve the #ChapsSandwichPuzzle & Win a Chaps # GiftCard! Visit our Facebook page for more details and to enter.
My son has autism but he’s a great kiddo and I wouldn’t trade him for the world !!!! I love him unconditionally and I know for SURE he loves me too ????????????????????
There’s only “no consensus” when you look at what everyone is saying. If you only ask Autistic people, over 80% want to get rid of the puzzle piece. We choose to represent ourselves with an infinity symbol: rainbow-colored for Neurodiversity or golden for autism.
I’m autistic and I LOVE the puzzle piece( just not blue). It makes more sense than infinity.
I only take issue with the blue puzzle pc because it is a symbol for autism speaks, which is a horrid organization that seeks to cure autism and views it as a burden and noose around the neck of caregivers.
Autism is a gift, not a curse.
Thank goodness we have autistic
(genius)people in history? Or else where would we be???
Agree, the ASD puzzle piece symbol was therapeutic to me upon first entering the world of Autism when my daughter was first diagnosed. I was lost and terrified,but when I saw that the puzzle piece was the symbol it revealed to me that I am not alone. My daughter is a prodigy and I thought would be soaring through school but is now in special education. I was indeed puzzled at how this all could be and how such a genius in other areas was unable to do menial things like learn to tie her shoes. The puzzle piece represented this perfectly and gave me the feeling I was not alone.
David, it’sinteresting that you said “the puzzle piece was therapeutic to me…” but you are not autistic. Think about what it means to us (autistics) that non-autistics always centre themselves in discussions about us. I find it perculiar some people find it very painful and dangerous. Perhaps the puzzle piece should represent allistic family of autistics because seems to me you are more puzzled and sad about us than we are ourselves! Your daughter not thriving at school says something bad about school – she’s still a genius.
The people without ASD are commenting on how they feel, because we are the ones that are raising the children/grandchildren with ASD. It is their diagnosis, but it does greatly affect our lives as well. I support the puzzle piece as a true symbol for Autism, because it is 2025 and the spectrum is still a puzzle to health care professionals, even autistic ones… it symbolizes the “pieces” of information that non autistic people are missing. It doesn’t symbolize a lack of anything for the people with ASD. And for those saying there’s nothing wrong with people with ASD that y’all don’t need to be cured, or understood, please realize that us parents/grandparents aren’t looking for a cure, but we are looking for the “missing pieces” of information that we don’t have, so that we can understand ASD better and can better provide for our children and grandchildren. My son is level 1 ASD, but my grandson is level 3. They’re nothing alike and here I am 20 years later, looking for the “missing pieces” of information again… so while everyone is looking for a reason to be offended, maybe they should stop and think about what the symbol actually means, instead of what they THINK it means. My autistic son that is searching for the “missing pieces” himself, completely understands the puzzle piece symbol now, and wears it proudly. Once you have to find the missing pieces, you will then understand that the symbol isn’t a negative symbol against autism, it’s actually a positive symbol coined by a parent of an autistic child that was looking for their missing pieces of knowledge about their child diagnosis. One crappy organization doesn’t take away from the symbol. Be offended by their company, not the positive symbol that means so much to the people it was created by and for.
Her daughter not thriving at school, is because the school is still “missing the pieces” of information they need to properly provide for the needs of her autistic child. Hence the symbol being a puzzle piece… if people would focus on educating others with the pieces of information they’re missing about ASD, instead of being focused on who is offended about the puzzle piece symbol, then maybe, just maybe, her daughter would be thriving… because they would have their “missing pieces”.
Maxfield,
This is Thomas. I was the only person with autism involved in creating the puzzle piece ribbon. I just want to point out that there are over 7,000,000 people with autism in this country alone. For you to say you know what over 80% of them think would mean you personally know what over 5,600,000 people with autism in the US think of the puzzle piece.
So you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t believe you. Because no one anywhere knows what that many people with autism think about anything. We should, and we need to find a way to make that happen, but for now, we don’t.
That said, the puzzle piece is still the only officially recognized symbol for autism. But you are free use whatever symbol you want. And so is everyone else. Or they can use none at all if they prefer. To my way of thinking, we need to be focused more on things like education, employment, housing, and health care. Things that will actually make a positive difference in the lives of others with autism.
“The puzzle piece is the officially recognized symbol” by whom? Neurotypical-ran organizations? Making decisions with little to no autistic input? Why should we consider their word on a symbol more important than how we feel about it personally? We’re the ones it’s meant to represent.
It was actually created or “coined” by the parent of an autistic child to symbolize the missing pieces of information that we don’t have. That’s who came up with it. Until you’re the parent of an autistic child, you wouldn’t understand the search for the “missing pieces” of information you need to meet the needs of properly raising an autistic child.
Well said!
There has been a study on the connotations of the puzzle piece, and the result was that it mostly draws negative feelings towards autistics in those looking at it.
Also I want to add that, even though the discussion is still going on, there IS a new symbol already that is widely used by the autistic community: the golden infinity symbol, as gold is “Au” on the periodic table. Heavily used is also the general neurodiversity logo: a rainbow infinity sympol.
The study Emma is referring to: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6085079/
My grandson is autistic and he’s the most loveable, caring, sweet child, and he fits in just fine with society just like anybody else.
Doesn’t everybody have something wrong with them?
Yes, because no one is perfect!
I thought they had the puzzle pieces because of how intelligent they are putting puzzles together.
I love ???? my grandson to the moon and beyond, he’s my precious little prince ????
I thank you respectfully for your time in reading this.
Have a good day.
Debra W.
My sons are autistic and LOVE the puzzle pieces.
I have two autistic children and I’m a single mom of 7. I drive a Chevy avalanche all decked out to support autism and it’s covered in bright colored puzzle pieces with compassionate sayings and messages inside. Puzzle pieces don’t make the Autism.. I advocate to show I accept my autistic kids and will do anything to help them.. everyone knows the sign for autism is a puzzle piece so when u see my truck you immediately know what I’m advocating..people can think what they want. The fact is, autism does not have a cure. Every autistic people are different.what works for one may not work for others.we are still figuring things out and finding ways to help have better life. People should be complaining about the amount of disrespect kids and adults show to autistic people than to be crying and disrespecting me who drives with love and pride my autism truck with puzzle pieces..figure out autism before bashing a puzzle piece
MY SON IS AUTISTIC AND I DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SIMBOL NOT EVERYONE SEE IT WRONG. IM SO PROUD OF MY SON BECAUSE PUTING TOGETHER THINGS HE LERND HOW TO DO A LOT OF STUFF, MY SON LERND FASTER THAT MY OLDES THAS WAS 6 MONTH PRIMATURE.
As with everything in our world today another symbol that recognizes and draws attention to something people need to understand and be aware of is being scrutinized. When this was created it was a big puzzle to all, it’s still very much a puzzle. It’s something people need to be aware of. I’m sure the people who don’t like it would not of been diagnosed with autism back then.
Hope, how do you know whether we would have been diagnosed as autistic back then or not? You don’t know any of us and it’s incredibly dismissive for you to try to silence us just because you don’t think we’re a specific flavor of autistic or “not autistic enough” for you.
The initial symbol was created to suggest that we’re missing a piece of ourselves or not whole people. That’s okay with you? Yikes.
Because up until 2013, “Autism,” known as Autism Disorder was what we now call Level 3 Autism. It’s those so greatly impacted that they can need care 24 hours a day for the rest of their lives.
It was 2013 when what most now are diagnosed as became part of Autism Spectrum Disorders and the vast majority screaming about hating the puzzle piece wouldn’t have been diagnosed as Autism prior to 2013.
Also, the purpose of the puzzle piece can be found anywhere and it was because Autism was a puzzling disorder. It had nothing to do with the individuals that were severely impacted by it.
I know this discussion was last year but I have to comment. Kelly claims we wouldn’t have been diagnosed with autism prior to 2013… you can NOT know that first of all – so why make a statement like that – second, EVEN if we wouldn’t have been – that’s even more reason to listen to our voices now.
IF we wouldn’t have been diagnosed, it’s because the medical industry was ill-informed and – as the medical industry does – had to catch up with reality using research and gaining more understanding of what it means to be autistic.
And you would have had even less of a chance at diagnosis back then if you were a girl…they used to think girls couldn’t have autism. Were they right then? No? So they weren’t right when using “levels” to describe Autism and you are not right for defending a position arguing against people actually in this community.
I personally am not offended by the puzzle piece, as I take no offense to pretty much anything (especially foolish things) but other people ARE upset by it, and I am studying speech pathology so I will not be using it ever out of respect for the other members of my community.
I prefer the infinity symbol myself – because everyone is completely unique yet we are all connected and can work together to accomplish great things in so many ways.
You are not autistic enough. Puzzle pieces symbolize that so much is unknown. Putting the pieces together to solve issues that autism brings up. How about autistic people who cannot talk, can’t care for themselves, can’t socialize or hurt themselves. We should not try to solve that? It’s a puzzle and I want it out together so that people with what I feel is the “flavor” of autism have a chance at a meaningful life.
I KNOW MANY were misdiagnosed or just not diagnosed at all. My Uncle was one of them. They labeled him a “slow learner” “a dreamer” but most often referred to as a “dummy” or “retarted”… My Grandparents had to advocate for him all of his short life. My oldest son was often called by my Uncle’s name because his mannerisms and personality traits were identical… My son is autistic. It wasn’t diagnosed then it was shunned. The puzzle piece is a symbol that makes it acceptable to have challenges and STILL BE A BIG PART IF THE WORLD. EVERY PIECE IS SEVERELY IMPORTANT. To say that it isn’t solvable doesn’t make it less important. It’s still needed, still wanted and the world isn’t complete without those pieces that sometimes feel like they don’t fit.
The intentions were to bring much needed awareness to those people. For those that changed the intention that is on them. They are the only ones that gave that symbol a negative connotation in their own mind. Like saying pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness is sexist because men get breast cancer too why is it pink. Bringing awareness to a topic that needed to be learned about is huge. To dismiss that is a slap in the face to all those that were called dumb or were left to rot in institutions.
No. It was originally created by the parent of an autistic child, to symbolize the missing pieces of information that we don’t have about their autism. As I said in an earlier comment, my son is level 1 ASD. I had to find the missing pieces of information to learn how to properly raise him the way he needed me to, as his needs are different from mine. Now he has a son that is level 3 ASD. He is now searching for the missing pieces of information that he doesn’t have so he can learn how to best meet his son’s needs to properly raise him. 20 years later, I am again searching for the missing pieces of information that I don’t have to help my son take care of his son. It is definitely a fitting symbol for the experience of the parents/grandparents. Which is who it was coined by and for. It’s about us search for the missing pieces of information that we need.
Lori, are you saying that all autistic people are geniuses? Or are you saying thank goodness for autistic people as long as they are geniuses? Either way, your statements come off as problematic and ableist.
Not all autistic people are geniuses; most are not. Just as most non-autistic people aren’t. Being of average intelligence or being intellectually disabled doesn’t mean someone is less valued, though. So thank goodness for them, as well.
I think it is horrible how many people are saying they have autism just because they are a little different. Just stop. It diminishes the people who do need help. It makes it seem as if autism is no big deal. A spectrum? Seriously, it makes it so that awareness people with autism want doesn’t exist as people think it is no big deal. Well it is a big deal. My kids are trapped and cannot communicate. I’m sure they do not embrace their autism. They are frustrated and act out. They have SIB. Would anyone want that? I do not embrace autism. I want it eradicated. If you say you want sutism then you are not autistic.
Wow, Ginny. I understand you are frustrated because of your children – but you don’t get to speak for an entire population of people. I have adhd / autism and I am studying communication sciences and disorders to become a speech pathologist – one reason being so I can educate people who talk like this.
Your children are still developing-and will be until 25- (the brain will) they don’t know what it means to accept themselves at all – even NT adults struggle with that. It’s called a spectrum because we have discovered all the hidden traits people have tried to hide because society makes us feel like we have to. I could go into my childhood and all the signs that were there that got ignored – but I won’t.
If you say you want autism “eradicated” – you want a piece of who your children are eradicated…because not only is it how the brain functions differently than most, it’s also genetic. It’s not something that can be “eradicated” unless you want to talk eugenics (and people have and do). Sad.
I wish the best for your boys…. But it sounds like you need to get better support and advocates for your boys – not to be judging the autistic experiences of other people online.
Couldn’t agree more with you Crystal. I am a young Autistic woman and seeing people advocate as you do brings joy to my heart. Thank you for trying to educate others and I know that you will have a positive impact on so many people as a speech pathologist. Thank you!!
As an Autistic person, and one in the small majority, I actually identify with the puzzle piece because it’s all I’ve known growing up. I also feel like Autistic people should be able to have their own opinions on Autism politics and be able to identify with whatever symbols they want to identify with. I personally like all the autism symbols but the “autism community” doesn’t speak for me because I’m an individual and don’t like the autistic militant behavior online.