The puzzle symbol has a gotten a bad name

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I am not keen on the jigsaw, I associate it in my mind with autism speaks. I dislike some aspects of autism speaks but compaired with some other groups I think that they are a bunch of angels.

The thing I dislike about the jigsaw puzzle is that it suggests that I need solving. I will freely admit that I am to some people a bit of an enigma. I think that very few people understand who and what I am. I consider some things to be private and I have no great urge to tell total strangers about the thoughts which go through my mind and about every detail of my life. I wish to live out my time on earth in peace, without discomfort and in some way which gives meaning to my life.

My natural behaviour includes some things which might be a surpise to many people, but I do not need to be solved and turned into a "normal".

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Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

I like the puzzle ribbon, the colours of it are bright which means positivity. And also the different colours could represent how varied the spectrum is.
I saw some really cool vans type shoes on cafepress once with the puzzle pattern all over them, I quite like them but I wouldn't wear them though.

Not that i'm against or anything, but i could understand how some people could misunderstand on the "what is normal?" quote <.< Some people might think this means autistic people are considered abnormal and take offence to that. Some other might take it more like "what defines normality?" which is imo an improvement over the former for both sides (NTs and autistics alike).

All in all, i wish you luck. My dad knows that having someone on the spectrum requires a LOT of patience to deal with. <.<

I think people will disagree on this issue in many ways. Puzzle pieces are nice looking symbols, but what doesnt really connect with me about it is that there is nothing mysterious and puzzling about me. I say what I think and I am open. So how am I a puzzle? unless other people take my plain thinking to mean something else. So to me a puzzle piece doesnt represent me, it represents NTs trying to understand me. So it is not really a symbol for me. I guess it is not a bad thing because NTs are attempting to understand us.

I always thought the puzzle was because certain types of people like to do puzzles and word games and things which take logic and concentration, a lot of autistic people are very good at puzzles.

The one I've seen with the missing piece disturbs me a bit. It's like having a screw loose.

I like the completed puzzle, with everything in exactly the right place. I was thinking about it the other day when I realized that my 'random' asides in conversations fill in to make a completed picture. I see the way all the elements fit together, where my NT friends see each piece separately.

I also like the completed puzzle. To me, it means that each person on the spectrum is their own complete person, and that we're all different. I want my next set of bed sheets to be puzzle ones. I guess that I'm a womanchild who's never really grown up.

I don't like the ribbon.

Know why?

It's bloody ugly! @_@

Anyway, is see Asperger's as Autism's little sister. I wouldn't feel comfortable allowing myself to be represented by a ribbon. I'm a headcase, yeah, and I need lots of help compared to some people here...but still...you know?

I would like to thank everyone for their comments…this has been a nice way to meet a few people and to get a new perspective on what some think of the autism ribbon and the puzzle piece as it perceived in your world…(being you not the spectrum).

If you Google search the puzzle piece and see how many ways it being used and displayed for other means (projects, company, mission statements) you may find it interesting.

At work I’m on a new project that brings 4 elements together to make a total package…I picked the artwork design and its been well accepted among my peers.

If you take it literary we are all puzzles, we are all have different pieces and we all need figuring out…

I like to link of myself as a deluxe, oversized and maybe with hidden secret message that will be revealed to the person who solves me…

Have a great night…love the comments…if you post them I'll read them

AjCoyne, I don’t find the ribbon particularly beautiful my self, I have seen a few designs and styles I like more then others…but as an awareness ribbon I think it serves its purpose.

I found another discussion started in April about a Universal symbol for Asperger's