In 1999, the Autism Society of America designed a puzzle piece ribbon. The symbol was developed as a tool to raise awareness. The puzzle piece signifies the complexity of the autism spectrum. The ribbon represents the diversity of individuals with autism and their families.
Why a puzzle piece? Because at the time, it symbolized how some people thought autism was a “puzzling” condition. The original design depicted a crying child inside the puzzle piece which was supposed to represent the sadness from the burden that autism was considered to put on a child's life.
Over time, as more was discovered about the autism spectrum, the puzzle piece symbol began to be viewed in a negative light by the autism community. Those who spoke out in opposition said they felt it created the impression that autism was a riddle to be solved or that those with the condition were incomplete.
Puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, blocks, and Rubik's cube can provide autistic children with a satisfying tactile sensation. Puzzle toys can also help improve their focus as these let them center their attention on one activity and hone their fine motor skills as they practice manipulating objects.
The puzzle piece – originally used by the National Autism Society in the UK in 1963 to represent autism spectrum disorder. The interlocking pieces represent the unknowns of autism. The different colors of the puzzle pieces represent the vast diversity of the autism spectrum.
The rainbow infinity sign is the most popular symbol for Autism and the autistic community among the community itself.
The Autism Puzzle Piece
The most recognizable symbol of autism is the puzzle piece. The puzzle piece was first used as a symbol for autism in 1963 by the National Autistic Society (NAS) in the United Kingdom.
Jigsaw puzzles are quite therapeutic indeed! They allow for increased mental stimulation, increased “good-feelings”, and improved Interactions with others. It's exercising that ever-so-important muscle “The Brain” that makes it stronger.
While at first their play habits may appear to be similar to those of children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), children with autism tend to sort, stack, and organize their toys because they find it comforting.
Nighttime puzzling proves itself as an effective relaxation technique. Manage stress before bed by spending time on a serene landscape puzzle. Any worries or to-dos of tomorrow will fade away and your posture will soften, ready for deep sleep. Jigsaw puzzles sharpen cognitive function by presenting creative challenges.
The reason behind the reclassification of Asperger's syndrome was its similarity to autism, and the fact that it was distinguished from the latter based simply on a lack of language and cognitive delay — which, interestingly, isn't something every individual on the spectrum experiences.
On world autism awareness day, April 2nd, you may see plenty of blue being shown off to support autism awareness. The color blue's association to autism originated with the autism advocacy association known as Autism Speaks. Their “Light it Up Blue” campaign calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness.
The Infinity Symbol: An Alternative to the Autism Puzzle Piece. The rainbow infinity symbol was created by autistic people in 2005 to represent all forms of neurodiversity.
Putting a puzzle together is the perfect analogy for anything you are trying to achieve in life. You won't know all the steps to your goal until you are in the middle of it. Each step comes up when it needs to and you will complete it as happens. Some of the pieces might need to be moved around but that is life.
Butterfly. The butterfly symbol is one that signifies change and represents the diversity of people on the autism spectrum. It also symbolizes the full lives of the autistic community, and the beauty of the differences of autistic people.
Many children on the autism spectrum use echolalia (repeating other people's words and sentences) as a way of responding to direction, as well as expressing their wants and needs. Echolalia may be confusing for parents and neurotypical people but it need not be distressing.
Autistic children are often strong in areas like visual, rule-based and interest-based thinking. A developmental assessment or an IQ test can identify autistic children's thinking and learning strengths. You can develop autistic children's skills by working with their strengths.
In autism, there is laughing/giggling and 'laughing/giggling'. There can be numerous reasons to laugh, which are difficult to understand by 'outsiders': Of course, autistic individuals laugh when they are happy, or if they find something funny. However, they often laugh to release fear, tension and anxiety.
Puzzles exercise multiple cognitive functions, making them an ideal activity for individuals with ADHD who often struggle with executive functions such as planning, organising, and problem-solving.
It sounds simple, but these are great tools for kids with ADHD. Crossword puzzles improve attention for words and sequencing ability. Likewise, picture puzzles, in which your younger child has to look for things that are “wrong” in the picture or look for hard-to-find objects, also improve attention and concentration.
Working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve short-term memory. Puzzles increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration.
Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals can be very comforting. Keeping the colors muted, these tones can quiet the mind and create calm.
One of the most common color associations used to represent autism is the rainbow spectrum. Instead of choosing just one color, the range of colors inside the rainbow represents the scope of abilities and diagnoses on the autism spectrum – highlighting the variety of abilities and challenges each faces.
The “Light It Up Blue” campaign championed by Autism Speaks has popularized the link between the color blue and autism. The campaign occurs every April 2nd, which is set out as World Autism Awareness Day. On this day, the autism advocacy group calls on people from all walks of life to embrace the color light blue.