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Why do some people find the puzzle piece being the symbol for autism offensive? I thought it made sense because it was like “our brains are scattered but it fits together” or “not all minds are the same” like how a puzzle is??
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Anonymous 14w

i thought it was because the organization (autism speaks) is looking for a cure for autism and also doesn’t have any autistic people in positions of power in the org so it’s not actually representative of them. thus the puzzle piece is really representative of the fact that they don’t think autistic people are whole - they’re missing some of their pieces. which is super fucked up

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Anonymous 14w

It’s because it looks infantilizing

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Anonymous 14w

It’s primarily used by the organization autism speaks which many consider to be something akin to a hate group with the way they actually lobby against disability rights

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Anonymous 14w

I don't really care what normies think tbh

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 14w

It’s considered a toy, plus the bright primary colors that always get used with it makes it look like decorations you’d find in a kindergarten, which goes along with how autism is already heavily infantilized and misunderstood

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 14w

Ok thank you!!

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Deleted 14w

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Anonymous 14w

I love puzzles too, but the way that it’s portrayed is what’s infantilizing to me and a lot of people. Not saying people can’t choose to identify with it if they want to but a looot of people find it offensive or just kinda sucky

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 14w

I saw a dad at the store I worked at with a son who I believe had Down syndrome (I didn’t ask for specifics). The dad had a tattoo sleeve with the puzzle pieces and some of them were colored in so people could recognize it, but others were blank and he said it’s because he lets his son color them in.

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