One of the originators of the puzzle symbol explains the intentions behind it.
A variation on the puzzle piece logo in a tatoo created in honor of a mother’s beloved son with severe autism.
By Thomas A. McKean
There has been some misinformation spreading out there on the web lately about the puzzle piece awareness ribbon and what it means and represents. One of the things they are saying is that no one with autism was involved in its creation. This is incorrect. I was involved with it. I was there in the the room that day and I had both input and a vote. I’d like a moment to clarify just a few things.
The puzzle piece ribbon was created back in 1999, some 22 years ago. Over those years, several people have put their own unique meaning to what it represents. (Example: one mother told me that for her it represented the missing pieces of her life that her child filled in for her.) Below is what the puzzle piece means — OFFICIALLY.
The interlocking pieces represent the unknowns of autism. Understand we are talking about autism itself, not any individual who may be diagnosed. We are not saying, as some believe, that “people with autism are a puzzle.” We are not saying they are “missing pieces.” We are not saying they are “a puzzle to be solved.” We never said any of that. What we are saying here is there are still a few things that we haven’t quite figured out yet about how all of this works. So again, the pieces speak to the condition of autism itself, not to any specific individual who has it.
The different colors of the puzzle pieces represent the vast diversity of the autism spectrum. Everything from the most severe cases to those who are wildly successful. From those who have an interest here to those who have another interest there. The young to the old, the cruel to the kind, the talkative to the non-verbal. Those with IEPs and those without. Those in the institutions and those who live independently. Those who are finding their way and those who are not. And everyone anywhere in between all of these things. All are included, no one is left out. That’s what the colors are for. It is an equal opportunity symbol.
The brightness of the colors represent hope. Hope for awareness, hope for acceptance, hope for understanding, hope for a cure for those who may want it. Even hope that one day we will be judged not by the symptoms of the autism, but by the content of our character.
There are people saying this is a symbol of hate. It is not. It is a symbol of respect. We didn’t create this because we hate people with autism, just the opposite. You can see the love is there in the meanings of the symbol.
One more thing, sort of related, because there is room here to add it. I was also involved in the creation of Autism Awareness Month. When we were deciding what it would be, we first narrowed the twelve months down to April and August. We did this because they started with A — like Autism. At that point we pretty much immediately chose April. Springtime, new beginnings, nicer weather, a better time for conferences, fund raisers, and other awareness activities.
That’s why Autism Awareness Month is in April. Because it begins with A.
Thomas McKean was diagnosed with autism in 1979 at the age of 14. As one of the original autism self-advocates he has served on the board of Autism Society of America, has written two books on autism, has spoken at numerous conferences, has done private consulting, and has even appeared on Oprah. He currently lives in Ohio with his sister, her husband, and their pomeranian. Learn more about Thomas at www.thomasamckean.com.
This piece was originally published on NCSA’s Medium account.