Puzzle Ribbon, All Twisted Up
May 7, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
If you are a little tired of the “puzzle ribbon” as a symbol for the so-called “mystery” of autism, here’s the ribbon all twisted up in a knot, courtesy of dumpr.
Or, if you’d rather, here’s the puzzle ribbon as a puzzle. 
Thanks to Eye on DNA for the psychedelic suggestion.
I am the parent of an Asbergers Autistic child. I believe that the puzzle ribbon is the best icon to bring awareness to this as you call it (so called mystery) it truley is a puzzle. As if Autism and Asbergers wasn’t enough, we now are told that there is a new “twist” the Weak X gene…..
I just have to say that your comment shows the ignorance and condemnation of most people who believe that all this is is bad parenting.
Thanks, Stephanie. My understanding is that, while the puzzle ribbon may symbolize how non-autistic persons may feel about autistic persons (such as their children), autistic persons themselves find this notion of being considered a “puzzle” and a “mystery” troubling. We non-autistic persons—the “neurotypical”—seem to be puzzling ourselves to autistic persons—–certainly I would say that my son must wonder at why in the world I wish for him to do something! I think you are referring to some of the findings in autism genetics about de novo mutations? Best wishes.
Stephanie,
Are you referring to Fragile X syndrome?
Say what you like but the fact remains that just like ADD, we don’t know what causes some people to have autism and some to not. Not that one condition is normal and the other is not. I have dealt with ADHD allmy life and consider myself normal but I understand that for other types, I can apear anything but. So to say that Autism creates a puzzle or has a mystery is acurate. I believe that once we understand what causes people to have or not have Autism, it will be preceived by the general population more like a personality type. I personally don’t see my nephew as anything other than normal. he’s VERY smart, exentric and strong willed. He knows what he wants and he demands that his life run smoothly, how is that NOT normal? I just wish I had the gusto to demand that my life run the way I want it.
“I believe that once we understand what causes people to have or not have Autism, it will be preceived by the general population more like a personality type.”
The whole point of all this research is to cure and prevent autism. If groups like autism speaks succeed in their goals, people like me will no longer exist. If all this research were to bring greater acceptance of autistic people, I would be fine with it. But, unfortunately it’s all about eugenics. But don’t take my word for it, do some research. A good starting point is the autism speaks site. Look at their mission statement.
As far as the ribbon goes. It offends me. As does the blue puzzle piece from autism speaks. To me those are hate symbols. I react to the blue puzzle piece in much the same way a Jew would react to a swastika.
I completely agree with Stephanie. How dare you take what is a beautful way to express the needs of so many and twist it into a cold & uncaring knot!
I don’t have autism but I know a lot of people who do. I have a 24-year-old son who has severe autism. He can’t even talk, he has to type. I am fortunate in that I get to spend time with him and his large group of friends, all adults with severe autism and uncomfortable behaviors. I have loved and lived with a man for 10 years who has Aspergers. I have yet to meet anyone on the spectrum who wants to be cured. Really it’s all parents who are trying to cure or prevent it. I admit, in my younger days when I was feeling inconvenienced by my son’s condition, I too, felt there should be a cure. Luckily for me my son was willing to see me through that ugly phase. I owe him a debt of gratitude.
Well, my brother doesn’t seem to get offended by the puzzle symbol, and I am not not saying that all people with autism should have the same opinions or feel the same way about it, I guess my point is that people look at symbols differently and that is the intent behind symbols that are destructive or not.
I personally wear the ribbon. At the same time, I feel that autism isn’t what should be cured, but the attitude of society against autism. My brother is as he should be, smart, funny, and creative. His autism is what makes him an interesting and authoritative subject on animation and anime. Without that kind of focused attention on various subjects, I am certain the number of PhD candidates would fall drastically in this country. What my brother has is a gift, and I tell him that.
There are too many talented folks in this country and worldwide to think that they are all neurotypical, and I think that the research on autism, HAS to be done, if only because our society needs to understand autism in order to stop fearing it.
So it is a mystery to researchers and scientists, and although I don’t like all of the connotations associated with the symbol, I wear it to support them, all people with autism in general and most of all my brother.