Suds Richardson
Staff Reporter
The puzzle piece is a widely recognized symbol of autism. It is coined and spread around most frequently by those who identify with being an ally of those affected rather than those who are autistic. Autistic individuals have been advocating for its replacement with the infinity symbol.
One reason for this is how it can be seen as the puzzle piece represents that they are not a whole person or have, ‘pieces,’ missing. According to Sage Journals, “One criticism of the puzzle piece implies that autistic people are somehow incomplete and need to be made whole,” it also adds, “its implication that autistic people are a problem requiring a solution.” This is to say that autistic individuals feel as if the puzzle piece represents them as less than human and as if their autism needs to be solved or cured.
Another reason for wanting the puzzle piece to go is that its widespread popularity comes from the organization Autism Speaks. According to Altogether Autism, “Autism Speaks was the biggest organization to approach autism awareness from this perspective that autism is a disease requiring fixing, curing. Therefore, their campaigns were the most hurtful, upsetting, and offensive to autistic people.” From this, autistic individuals have found the need to separate themselves from the ideas and symbols of an organization that has hurt them and views them as one with a disease or a need to be cured. Autism Speaks is also entirely run by neurotypical people therefore autistic individuals would rather not identify with a picture that was made for those who do not identify with it.
The replacement symbol is a rainbow infinity sign. It represents the spectrum of autism and the many different and unique individuals within it. According to Study Break Magazine, in an article written by someone who is autistic, “Many autistic people are rejecting the puzzle piece symbol used by Autism Speaks in favor of the infinity rainbow, which represents the diversity of the autism spectrum.” The rainbow infinity symbol is all-inclusive on the spectrum, and many individuals find it fits much nicer than the puzzle piece ever could. As a symbol made by those unaffected, popularized by an organization against autistic individuals, representing incompleteness, the puzzle piece was never a good fit for the community. Replacing the puzzle piece with the rainbow infinity symbol is supported by autistics and preferred by most all who identify on the spectrum.
Image Credit: Pinterest
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