Search the site...

Autism Spectrum Explained
  • Home
  • Introduction to Autism
    • Characteristics
    • Common Myths >
      • Negative Narrative >
        • Autism Controversies
  • How to Interact
    • Stigma & Discrimination
    • What to Avoid
  • Advice for Parents
    • Visual Supports
    • Autism Treatments
    • Explaining Autism to Kids
    • A Mother's Story
    • My Sibling Perspective
    • Autism Explained for Kids Site
  • All Kinds of Minds
    • Culture of Autism
    • Late Diagnosis
  • More
    • How to Assess Claims
    • What Causes Autism?
    • Additional Resources
    • Site Info & Feedback >
      • About the Website
      • ASE FAQ
      • Survey
      • Contact Us
      • Make a Submission
  • Our Blog
    • On Self-Advocacy
    • Trouble with Changes
    • Smoothing Transitions
    • Autism Speaks
    • Vaccines
    • Infantilization
    • Her Autism is Worsening
    • Stimming
  • Autism Tutoring
  • Home
  • Introduction to Autism
    • Characteristics
    • Common Myths >
      • Negative Narrative >
        • Autism Controversies
  • How to Interact
    • Stigma & Discrimination
    • What to Avoid
  • Advice for Parents
    • Visual Supports
    • Autism Treatments
    • Explaining Autism to Kids
    • A Mother's Story
    • My Sibling Perspective
    • Autism Explained for Kids Site
  • All Kinds of Minds
    • Culture of Autism
    • Late Diagnosis
  • More
    • How to Assess Claims
    • What Causes Autism?
    • Additional Resources
    • Site Info & Feedback >
      • About the Website
      • ASE FAQ
      • Survey
      • Contact Us
      • Make a Submission
  • Our Blog
    • On Self-Advocacy
    • Trouble with Changes
    • Smoothing Transitions
    • Autism Speaks
    • Vaccines
    • Infantilization
    • Her Autism is Worsening
    • Stimming
  • Autism Tutoring

People, Not Puzzles

9/5/2014

1 Comment

 
Caley hates the puzzle piece autism logo. Me, I don't think I dislike the puzzle idea itself, but I do strongly dislike pretty much everything it's being used to connote. And it REALLY bothers me that, though many autistic people have reported that they find it hurtful, organizations continue to use it. 

And it's not always an issue of using the logo without knowing how hurtful it is. A lot of autism organizations are aware of that people have reported it hurtful, and yet they still use that logo, and that bothers me most of all. Caley once went to a large autism organization seeking aid, only to find that their informational table was plastered with puzzle pieces. She said that as an Autistic person, she found the puzzle piece logo to be hurtful. She said, "I'm a person, not a puzzle." And they replied, "Oh, we know a lot of autistic people find it hurtful, but we have to use it." 

Caley was SO upset to hear that this organization that purportedly stood for autistic people used a logo that they themselves KNEW many autistic people found hurtful that she had to walk away. That day, and to this day, she did not get the help that she needed from the organization, because they had hurt her. 

Yes, I realize you can't change your logo just because one person doesn't like it, but this isn't one person, this is scores upon scores of people who actively find it hurtful. And yet, it's still used. And that fact? That fact really, REALLY upsets me. 

So if you're trying to help autistic people, please, PLEASE use another symbol. The infinity spectrum is the commonly accepted alternative, if you're looking for one. But don't use, or if you can avoid it, even share anything with a puzzle piece. I can tell you Caley cringes every time she sees one, turning an attempt to help into something very hurtful, and you know what? She's not alone. So if you're looking to help autistic people, use a different symbol. And when an autistic person tells you something is hurtful, please, PLEASE listen.


-Creigh

Further Reading:
Judy Endow's Post Goodnight Autism Puzzle Pieces
http://ollibean.com/2014/04/04/goodnight-autism-puzzle-pieces/

A beautiful picture of Autistic advocates protesting...well, a lot of things, but puzzle piece logos among them
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VyorhzF_el4/S89bae-bUKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/Y2hzkNFMpj0/s1600/group1.jpg

I'm a Person, Not a Puzzle (shows the alternative the autistic community has offered to the puzzle piece, the infinity spectrum)
http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com/32509.html

Also, those of you who also liked his page may note that this post heavily drew from a comment I left on Invisible Strings's post about his own feelings on the puzzle piece logo. Awesome page, if you haven't liked it yet, I highly recommend doing so!

1 Comment
gold IRA home storage link
1/30/2025 02:49:09 am

Gold IRA home storage allows individuals to hold their precious metals in their own possession, offering more control and security. However, it's crucial to be aware of IRS rules and risks, as improper storage could lead to penalties or disqualification of the IRA.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Creigh

    I'm a college student who grew up with my Autistic younger sister, Caley. I've got a bachelor's degree in Psychology and I'm currently studying for my Master's in Speech Language Pathology.

    Neither of those, however, have given me an understanding of autism. All of my understanding comes from learning from the many autistic people that I know. As a result, I have a very different outlook on autism than most, and a burning desire to tell the world what I've learned. This blog is one of the many areas in which I attempt to do that.


    *Note, none of these make me a professional, so advice I give is not professional advice.

    Top Posts

    On Self-Advocacy
    Difficulty with Changes 
    On Parental Guilt
    Transition Time!
    My Autism Speaks Story
    A Tale of Two Sensitivities
    Autism and Haircuts
    Cause of Autism
    Vaccines and Autism
    Happiness's Variations
    I Cannot Call Caley Cute
    The Power of Listening
    Her Autism is Worse
    On Preventing Bullying
    Autistic Parenthood
    Facing Discrimination
    Stimming's Function
    On Anxiety

    Categories

    All
    Acceptance
    Accommodations
    Awareness
    Caley's Posts
    Cause Of Autism
    Change
    Controversies
    Creigh's Updates
    Different Not Less
    Empathy
    Kindness
    Listening
    Meltdowns
    Myths
    Parenting
    Presume Competence
    Reader Q&A
    Science
    Self Advocacy
    Stigma / Discrimination
    Stimming
    Understanding
    Word Choice

    RSS Feed

    Blog Info

    Starting about in March 2014, all of these posts are originally published on Autism Spectrum Explained's Facebook page, and later reposted here for archiving purposes and easy access for ASE readers, including those who don't use Facebook. 

    Archives

    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from madmiked, Jim Larrison, Purple Sherbet Photography