Are you aware of the Autism Puzzle Piece? It may seem to be everywhere since April is Autism Month and World Autism Awareness Day is in the news, but the controversy around the autism puzzle piece is actually one of the most divisive issues in the community. Many autistic adults outright hate it and in some circles it can be quite offensive, with many communities opting to ban it altogether with a preference for newer more inclusive symbols.

In this video, I’ll cover the origins and meaning behind the puzzle piece and its role in Autism Awareness Day, but most importantly we’ll describe the newer symbols available today and how the Autistic Community chooses to define itself. Armed with this knowledge we can all move beyond the dark history of autism awareness to a brighter future of autism acceptance and autism appreciation.