Mastodawn

anubis2814 8h ago

@dorgaldir I always thought it was because we stereotypically like puzzles. No joke here

Dorgaldir🇧🇪8h ago

@anubis2814 well if that were the real reason, then that would be awesome 😋

Sadly it's not why organisations, ran by non-autistics, chose the logo.
As far as I can find, is this the original logo. A crying child in a puzzle piece...

Gives it a whole other meaning doesn't it.

The puzzle piece is a logo given to us, the infinity symbol is a logo chosen by us.

Curio 7h ago

@dorgaldir
I had never heard of the puzzle piece before.

Here’s what my instance thinks:

@mxchara

Curio 7h ago

@dorgaldir
Oh 2018, I see. Didn’t realize there was a shift.
@mxchara

Dorgaldir🇧🇪7h ago

@curiousicae @mxchara
The puzzle piece is still being used.
I tried to explain it on a facebook group today where they were painting stones for autism day with the puzzle piece on it.
They got angry and kicked me out of the facebook group.

Curio 6h ago

@dorgaldir
So, it’s symbols representing the different interpretations of Autism. Makes sense, I don’t deal with people trying to pathologize us as needing to be fixed. I mostly deal with people dismissing our actual medical problems (ME/CFS), soon also by sueing the insurance company – no doubt about it.

I actually tried getting us AuDHD diagnosis two months ago and they said they can’t diagnose the Autism, since there is no differential diagnosis between Autism and ME/CFS. I was impressed they even knew that ME/CFS exists – different kind of problems, I tell ya’.
@mxchara

David 2h ago

@curiousicae @dorgaldir @mxchara "since there is no differential diagnosis between Autism and ME/CFS". WTF?

Curio 19m ago

@david42
I didn’t push it, ADHD is the one I care for. Our Autistc tendencies don’t need a dignosis, IMHO. It’d just be a minor benefit when navigating the health system, but we’re not really in the “special needs” camp of Autism when it comes to dealing with doctors so it’d mostly be another checkbox on the disability form since ME/CFS is not a recognized disability reason but Autism is.

Of course all of this is currently moot, since they’re no longer responding to my messages and I haven’t had the energy and focus to look for another doctor. They where also the only insurance-covered provider that responded at all. All other options are quite expensive.
@dorgaldir @mxchara

jarinks 6h ago

@dorgaldir the best part is the "missing piece" isnt actually the shape of the missing piece. Society labels neurodivergent people as "broken" and tries to "fix" them with broken methods

Moss da Bard 🇨🇦🇧🇧🇲🇽🇬🇱6h ago

@dorgaldir
I am glad that you do not feel you are missing a piece. But many of us do feel that way.

Personally, I feel like they took eight or nine 2000 piece puzzles, scrambled them all together, and picked out 2000 pieces and through them in a tattered box. I can put small areas of my life together but none of it fits together as a whole.

Dorgaldir🇧🇪5h ago

@bardmoss I understand that you can feel that way.
But that's not a reason for using a puzzle as a symbol for the whole of the autism community. Because many do find it offensive, and it's origin does not come from a good place.

And of course, I don't know you, so don't take this the wrong way, but ever considered that the puzzle you are trying to solve is the neurotypical worldview that is impressed on you? Maybe you are not a puzzle to be solved, but a work of art to be accepted as is?

Moss da Bard 🇨🇦🇧🇧🇲🇽🇬🇱4h ago

@dorgaldir
I appreciate the thought, I don't think it applies to me. I think even in a neurodiverse world I would not fit in. But I haven't given up yet.

Dorgaldir🇧🇪4h ago

@bardmoss but in a neurodiverse world it's not about "fitting in" it's about being accepted as you are. With your talents as well as your faults...

Moss da Bard 🇨🇦🇧🇧🇲🇽🇬🇱4h ago

@dorgaldir
That's great for you. Can I stop crying now? I'm 73 and none of that has happened.

@dorgaldir I've never thought the puzzle piece was meant to suggest anyone had anyone missing. I saw it as a symbol of the desire that things fit neatly and precisely. But I'm not sure whether that would be an accurate representation of autism either.

I always quite like gold (Au) as a symbol, but I'm not autistic, at least not officially.

@dorgaldir AnyTHING missing, oops.

Dorgaldir🇧🇪5h ago

@KeithWM well that is the official origin of the symbol.

It helps to see the first iteration of the logo...

@dorgaldir Is there a source for that symbolism specifically?

@KeithWM https://intheloopaboutneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/the-ableist-history-of-the-puzzle-piece-symbol-for-autism/

Dorgaldir🇧🇪5h ago

The Ableist History of the Puzzle Piece Symbol for Autism

The puzzle piece is the most commonly recognized symbol for autism awareness. But many people are unaware of its ableist history. On World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) , many neurotypical peopl…

In the Loop About Neurodiversity

@dorgaldir That's quite a read! But very interesting.

@dorgaldir I find "The organization chose jigsaw pieces for their logo to represent the "puzzling" nature of autism and the inability to "fit in" due to social differences, and also because jigsaw pieces were recognizable and otherwise unused." on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jigsaw_puzzle

Jigsaw puzzle - Wikipedia

Dorgaldir🇧🇪4h ago

@KeithWM and they chose this with 0 input from the autism community.
Also calling autist "puzzeling" is kind of insulting. Maybe try to understand us instead of just say "oh well yeah, they are a bit puzzeling"
Autism isn't as puzzeling if you actually connect with people with autism in a respectfull way and treat them as equals and not as a "puzzle to be solved"...

@dorgaldir Yeah, I didn't think it was meant that way. It is always going to be hard that so much of the history of such conditions (can I even use that word...) is from an era when there was in general, I think, less acceptance for diversity.

@dorgaldir But I don't think it's really helping anyone to shun the puzzle piece altogether, neither to claim that "Autistic people reject the puzzle piece symbol" without qualification, as the link you posted does.

@dorgaldir (Although some of the stuff it is associated with is pretty sickening.)

Dorgaldir🇧🇪4h ago

@KeithWM yeah it comes from another time. But that does not mean we have to keep clinging on to it if the signal from the autism community itself is that they wish to change it.
Those people ment well, but chose it from a place of ignorance...

@dorgaldir Doesn't mean you cannot reclaim it. But maybe steer clear of the blue one 😆 .

Chris Hall 4h ago

@dorgaldir On my worse days, I have to admit that my brain feels like a box full of loose puzzle pieces.

Drew 🇵🇭 ♾️3h ago

@dorgaldir Reading all the comments here surprises me. I mean, I'm not a massive fan of the puzzle piece, I think it's become a cliche, but it's not a hill I would die on. I find it hard to get excited about this kind of stuff. Being autistic I have more challenging things to worry about on a daily basis.