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Autism Vox

Just plain puzzling

by Kristina Chew, PhD on April 4th, 2006

The puzzle piece and the puzzle ribbon have become symbols of autism due to the notion that “autism is a puzzle”–that autism is just one big mysterious and complicated disorder. Autistic adults beg to differ.

It’s time for a new symbol.

Suggestions?

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Phil Schwarz
Apr 6, 2006 at 5:45 pm

A Moebius strip with all of the colors of the rainbow.

– Phil
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 6, 2006 at 8:45 pm

But what will the pattern be?
Bluejay Young
Apr 7, 2006 at 12:34 pm

I like the Moebius strip rainbow, as pictured here:

http://www.geocities.com/autistry/mobiuslweb.jpg

“Many autism spectrum adults object to being objectified by the puzzle ribbon.
“Furthermore, it is mainly associated with the issues of “normal” parents of autistic kids and so doesn’t represent the reality of most adults on the autism spectrum.
“They want a different symbol and here is my offering.”

more at http://www.geocities.com/autistry/oddizms.html
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 7, 2006 at 12:42 pm

Yes I have seen that–I understand the rainbow as representing the notion of the autism spectrum, though it does make it resemble the multi-colored puzzle ribbon somewhat.
Autism Vox » The puzzle person
May 10, 2006 at 7:50 am

[…] The implied message seems to be not only “autism is a puzzle” but also “autistic people are puzzle pieces.” […]
Autism Vox » The puzzle person
May 10, 2006 at 7:50 am

[…] The implied message seems to be not only “autism is a puzzle” but also “autistic people are puzzle pieces.” […]
Autism Vox » Autism Designer Shopping Bag
Jul 10, 2006 at 6:01 pm

[…] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Related Posts: Autism Fathers and Autistic Pride…Designer babies (notautistic ones)…The [autistic] Child is father of the [autistic] Man… […]
Autism Vox » We Love Someone With Autism
Aug 24, 2006 at 6:12 pm

[…] Whatever you might think about the puzzle ribbon as an autism symbol, I did wish that Jim had been wearing his t-shirt reading I love someone with autism and the puzzle ribbon (like this one) this afternoon on the beach. We are down to the last day of our beach vacation and after spending an hour-plus putting together a 150 piece puzzle of the scrambled states, Charlie cried out and cried loud and long, all the way down to the beach and out into the ocean. […]
Ian Parker
Aug 25, 2006 at 3:19 pm

I don’t have an issue with the puzzle metaphor, but I do object to representations I’ve seen with missing pieces.

I interpret the puzzle as being put together a bit differently - not incorrectly, just differently. As long as the pieces all fit and the end result is pleasing, why do they have to go in the same order?
Kristina Chew, PhD
Aug 27, 2006 at 9:19 am

Thanks, Ian, for another way to think about the puzzle symbol….
Carol
Feb 4, 2007 at 12:19 am

The original symbol for the Autism Society of America in the early 1980’s was a black & white drawing of a person’s head with a puzzle design covering the scalp in such a way that it resembled the brain & a piece of it was suspended in air away from the head. ew! That symbol always gave me the creeps!

I think that design evolved from earlier (archaic) theories that autism was a mental illness. For me personally, the colorful autism ribbon is a welcome improvement over the previous design. Our children are not puzzles, but autism can be puzzling to those who do not understand it. And yes, it can often be puzzling even to parents. We don’t come with an innate understanding of autism. We learn it from our children over time.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 4, 2007 at 12:29 am

I remember that design……. always “puzzled” me too (sorry, did not intend for that to slip out.

“We learn it from children over time”: Yes, yes, yes.
Autism Vox » Puzzle Ribbon, All Twisted Up
May 7, 2007 at 1:00 pm

[…] you are a little tired of the “puzzle ribbon” as a symbol for the so-called “mystery” of autism, here’s the ribbon all […]
Rochelle
May 7, 2007 at 9:46 pm

I always hated the puzzle-piece ribbon for several reasons:

1) I am bothered by the passive “awareness” rhetoric on the symbol.

2) I find the puzzle a little too simplistic of a symbol for autism–that the developmental disorder is “child’s play” or something reserved for “children” that adults are passively “aware” of.

3) I find the symbol to closely reminiscent of the Christian “fish” symbol. Identifying autism with Christianity reinforces the association of autism as a “WASP” condition. A developmental disorder that impacts only Western, industrialized nations. Limiting autism to just WASP, industrialized nations reinforces “epidemic” rhetoric that focuses autism in one geographic area and stigmatizes autism through omission in other areas of the world. (I’m thinking here, for instance, of Grinker’s discussion on autism in South America or another poster’s comment on autism in Mexico.)

For what it’s worth…