How about a new symbol for the Spectrum of Autism?

I like pink Floyd too but that is never going to happen 

Is it possible to have an autism symbol that doesn't include a rainbow? They rainbow is so overused by various communities even the puzzle piece was rainbow coloured

I like the autism ducks 100% rainbow free 

One duck  is wearing sunglasses  to represent light sensitivity & the fact he is a unique cool kind of duck he is facing his own direction a line of other (neurotypical) ducks are facing the other way going in a different direction these NT ducks don't have sunglasses so are not as unique & cool and don't have issues with light sensitivity

In autism, we refer to "normal" people as "neurotypical" which makes us "neurodiverse". The tree avatar really shows this, with a myriad of infinite branches which does describe us well - we all have autism (the trunk), but we're all diverse. Some of us share similar traits (the large branches), some of us have different traits (other large branches), and the further into the tree you go, the more unique each small branch - still denoting people who are similar but each getting more rarer the deeper you go. And we're all the leaves, each one unique but our path from the trunk describes each and every one of us to the smallest detail.

I like the tree avatar, it feels peaceful.

I find a lot of the other logo's on this page so far make me feel ill - no offence to artistic skills - but because they're too busy or have too much contrast. Logo's should be simple. I understand the jigsaw piece because, for me, I always felt there was a piece missing of me, like everyone else was given a guidebook at birth but I didn't get one, but I never knew what it was, or that there even was one. And that missing puzzle piece seemed to connect to every other aspect of your life, but because it was missing, I didn't know what it was, and I couldn't ask other people about it because even though they had it, it was so integrated into their being that it didn't make sense to them what I was asking because it wasn't a separate thing. When I discovered my puzzle piece was "social imagination", my entire world suddenly all made sense.

On "Are you autistic?" on Channel 4 last night, they had a graphic which showed the spectrum like a massively multi-nodal network almost resembling a brain. That looked great as an expression of autism to me, but I don't know how you'd simplify that into a symbol. It was like a neural network, so if you could somehow denote that there was something different about it compared to a neurotypical's?

It might help if we brainstormed about what meaning we're trying to visualise with a symbol. What does autism mean to us and how are we conveying that meaning to others through a graphic? The jigsaw piece partially does this, because it's comparing people with autism to neurotypicals and essentially saying "we have a piece missing, the bit that processes social stuff to the degree that you do". This symbol caters both for NT's and people with autism - it shows the NT's that there's a really important (from their perspective) thing that we can't do ("social stuff"), and it's recognition to the people with autism because they feel there's a bit missing when compared to NT's.

I'm not saying "use the jigsaw", I'm saying we already have this symbol, and it works for a reason, so if we come up with something different, it needs to describe autism in a similar or better way.

We need to decide if the symbol is for neurotypicals, to help them understand autism, or for people with autism, to convey what it means to us to have (and celebrate?) autism, or for something that bridges the gap and caters for everyone. What meaning are we trying to symbolise?

I can be a bit slow at times - would make a great badge!

Perhaps 

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I will give you a "LOL" for this one :D

I don't think they would make a good 'logo' simply because they are not easy to reproduce. But there again, it might make a good avatar and if someone wants to use my patterns in that way please do, but they would need reducing in size to be able to be used in that way.

I really like the patterns, not as a symbol but they are very pleasing to look at. Maybe that is just an aspie thing, but I'd think many people will like them.

The puzzle piece ribbon 'sampled' and made into a pattern.

I sill don't like the jigsaw pieces though I like the pattern.  I could go on all day with these patterns but I'm sure most people will be glad if I don't!

(It will show clearer if you click on it, has lost some of the definition as posted)

I finally got to my other computer, and with an old version of Nero (from about 2006 and it doesn't work on Windows 10), I came up with these.  They are patterns, sampling from my previous designs.  But I like the result and it is fun getting the patterns from them.  I will sample the puzzle ribbon into it in a bit and see what that does!

Perhaps the bottom one the 'spectrum' doesn't show well, but I like the pattern - looks like lace!

To be honest I don’t know where it originally came from. I was on a course for autistic adults once and they sent us a number of images, including this one, to encourage us to express our autism to people in a visual way (as it’s often easier to do this than have to tell people verbally). I liked the concept, and I also loved this tree. 

NAS36609 said:

I agree with the tree idea, hence my avatar:

Where did you get your avatar?

I really love it.

I like the Slenderman who has put in an appearance!  But I do like it, the different 'branches' of autism.

I have had another idea so I'm off to my other computer which has the software to do it.  If it half comes off, I will post it later today!

Just keeps me occupied while not at work!

Here is a sketch of the tree logo (painstakingly produced in Windows Paint but could do it better with a different drawing program). I liked your idea of having A's as the leaves. The thing about the A's is that each one of them is different (in font, size, and colour) because we are all unique. I would like to add a saying in the bottom half but I wasn't sure what to put for that. No puzzle pieces in sight, though I am not philosophically as opposed to puzzle pieces as some others are because I think people on the spectrum would be better than average at assembling puzzles. However, I can see why people would object to the puzzle pieces because of the original intention of that symbol (as if we have something missing or are a problem to be solved). This is my original design so I trust that this wouldn't be used without my permission.

I don't think for one minute any of my ideas would ever be adopted.  I am not a graphic designer nor an artist, and these are just musings and doodles as to my thoughts.  But if anyone did want to adopt or adapt my symbols for their use they would be welcome to.

There are many different symbols for autism on the internet and in various social media and different autism groups, some with jigsaw pieces, some 'rubic cubes' some rainbows and all sorts of others. .  Some I like, some I don't, But please put ideas on here for your designs, express your views. 

Like my photographs, I don't suppose any will change the world.  But we can perhaps have a bit of fun trying to see what we can come up with.

Personally, I like the jigsaw symbol. I fully appreciate that many autistic people don't, but I think it's up to us to develop our own meanings for symbols and signs. And those of us that do use the puzzle piece should be able to. I have, in the past, been verbally attacked for saying that I liked and used the symbol. Someone took offence to this and accused me of not being autistic because they couldn't believe that I wouldn't find the symbol hurtful if I actually was.

To me, the puzzle piece represents that we are all made up of an infinite number of pieces - they make up the full picture of each of us, and no two people are the same. All of us have different puzzle pieces. My puzzle pieces are painted with the influence of autism. They make up my unique picture.

Now, there are alternatives. The rainbow infinity symbol being one. But no alternative is even as close to as well-known. I use the autism jigsaw piece in elements of my daily life, and I feel it has a chance of being recognised by those even outside the autism community. I don't believe I'd get that from any other symbol. It's all well and good designing a new symbol, but something altogether different for people to know and understand the meaning behind it.

I really like the tree. I would like this to be the symbol for autism.

Never one to let an idea rest, I have continued to develop Spectrum Head.

There is an old Optical Illusion where one wonders if one is looking at two profiles or a vase.  So I have developed the Spectrm Head into that in these pictures.  So what it is suggesting is 'Things are not as they seem', there is some other interpretation of them.  Or you can read what you like into it!

or how about this one, which suggests that there are those on the spectrum and those who are neurotypical, and something that is not what it seems can be interpreted as different things.  It doesn't mean we are all vases! (or perhaps we are and no-one has noticed yet!)

Pink Floyd would probably sue, lol. They pretty much love getting sued, suing people and suing each other. I like the prism concept though.

Pink Floyd are overrated imo. Hope no-one gets offended.

FWIW... I like this one out all posted by yourself here that I see so far.

People of many Colours. ASCs. Put it somewhow with the word "Autism"... or maybe AU or AUT will do...