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How about a new symbol for the Spectrum of Autism?

Trainspotter

The 'Puzzle Piece' autism spectrum symbol designs (such as the ribbon) are thought of by many autistic people as inappropriate.

I do not have a 'piece missing', neither am I waiting to be solved.  I am me, with all my faults and attributes, but I am autistic.

So I was musing about a different design to indicate the Autism Spectrum.  There have been various 'spectrum' designs in the past - two which spring to mind are the 'Captain Scarlet' Spectrum organisation, and the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon desgn.

I think the design of either of these could be adapted.  The Captain Scarlet one could have the Yellow 'S' adapted by removing the top bit, putting it into mirror image and then making the bottom bit into an 'A' for Autism (perhaps even putting the letters in the curvy bit.

The dark side of the moon could also be adapted, the Prism being changed to an 'A', indicating that from the 'white light' of everyone, there are a whole spectrum of people which make the whole.  I know there are copyright problems so they would have to be used as ideas only, and I know there are other ideas.

I particularly like the version below, just change the prism to an 'A' by extending the sides a bit and it is done!:

My main point is that I think there are many better ideas for a design to indicate a Spectrum, without something which some think of as offensive.

Has anyone got any ideas.  I will get the 'Captain Scarlet' design done how I am envisaging it, as I am not sure I am explaining it well, but as a circle it lends itself to a badge!

I look forward to any comments about this.

Parents

  • 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.

  • in reply to Blade

    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.

Reply
  • in reply to Blade

    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.

Children
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