Why the autism puzzle puzzle is such a problematic symbol

Puzzle puzzle is used for decades symbolize autism all over the world. Was used for charity logo and realizing ribbons, and even tattooed to the bodies of well -intensive parents.

But for many adult autistic puzzle element is not only obsolete – it offensive. Some consider it to be Hate symbol: Reminding how autistic people have long been misunderstood, pathological and excluded from conversations about their lives.

Puzzle appeared for the first time in 1963, when the British domestic autistic society adopted a logo designed by the non -voluntary parent of an autistic child. It contained not only a puzzle element, but a picture Crying childIt was aimed at presenting autism as a mysterious state that caused suffering.

In 1999, Autism Society of America introduced ribbon Covered with colorful elements of the puzzle. This strengthened the idea that autism is something that should be solved. Photos gained even greater importance when the American organization Autism Speaks, founded in 2005, adopted a blue puzzle as a logo.

One of the autistic lawyers described the symbol as “Red flag” – A warning sign that a person or organization uses it may not fully respect or understand autistic people.

So why does the puzzle element cause such a powerful reaction?

For many, the symbol suggests that autistic people are incomplete, a secret or problem that requires repair. It fits Medical model Autism, which focuses on deficits and aims to make autistic people behave more like non -powerful people than let them actually live.

From the deficit to difference

Due to the criticism of the medical model, some autistic people subscribe Social model of autism. This believes that autism is not a problem that should be fixed, but as a difference to understanding. According to this view, many challenges that autistic people are not from autism itself, but because of the lack of understanding and acceptance in society.

A group of autism researchers, including by Participatory COLLECTIVE OF TESTS OF Autism. In 2022 Welsh row He confirmed his involvement in the social disability model.

However, putting this social disability in practice in malnourished healthcare systems can be hard.

Is closely related to “Double empathy problem”. It is an idea that the division of communication between autistic and non -volume people goes both ways. In other words, if autistic people are “issued”, often because the wider world did not spend time understanding them.

Read more: How autistic and non -powerful people can understand each other better

The movement of the diversity of neurodicity goes a step further, argument that neurological differences such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia are natural differences in the human population. Just as biological diversity is good for the environment, the neurodic variety is probably good for society.

In recent years, several main autism organizations have taken steps to distance themselves from the puzzle element. The national autistic society has abandoned the symbol At the beginning of 2000and Autism Society of America followed in their footsteps in 2023. The Academic Journal Autism He removed the puzzle element from the cover in 2018, in recognition of its harmful connotations.

To say, the symbol is still often used, found in search engines and image databases.

Tests He discovered that puzzle images evoke negative associations, such as incompleteness and imperfection, regardless of whether they are associated with autism or not. No wonder that many autistic people ask for something more positive, full of respect and integration.

One popular alternative is the Rainbow Infinity symbol, first developed by autistic supporters in 2005. It represents the variety of neurodivergent community, including autistic people.

. Golden infinity Meanwhile, the symbol is used specifically to represent autism. The chemical symbols of gold are “Au”, the first two letters of autism.

Puzzle was created in the 1960s by non -voluorating people to represent a state that he perceived as tragic and mysterious. But today autistic people speak for themselves. The overwhelming message is clear – the puzzle element does not represent us.