The word Autism comes from Greek, for “self-directed”. In-fact this new word was coined only in the year 1908 by a Psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, to describe some patients who were extremely withdrawn. Later in 1920s, a Russian psychologist Grunya Sukhareva described some children with amazing abilities, who would shy away from expected social contact. In 1943, a ten year old Donald Triplett was seen by a Psychiatrist Leo Kanner. Donald was withdrawn, had a fascination for objects rather than people, had an exceptional ability for musical notes and numbers. Donald, who lived on till 2023 (age 89) is the first person described as having “Autism”.
A Jigsaw puzzle
For medical community and parents, Autism was a puzzle. Why would some children be different from what society expects them to be like. The struggle of a person with autism with conventional schooling systems, families, and expectations from employers was quite a puzzle, a maze to be navigated. In 1963, United Kingdom’s National Autistic Society created a symbol to raise awareness about this developmental disorder. This first symbol was a puzzle piece. Apparently the design came from a parent of a child with Autism.
A multi-colored Jigsaw
This jigsaw was later modified. About 15 parents and some children with Autism created a multi-colored, interlocking puzzle piece ribbon.It remains an official international autism symbol, and has been depicted in recent postage stamps too.
The Jigsaw indicates a puzzle. In some symbols, the pieces of puzzle are flowing out. In other stamps, some pieces are missing.
Jigsaw on its way out..
More recently, many Autism associations are taking an exception to this symbol. Individuals with autism are different, and not a puzzle. Puzzle means that it is to be solved, or corrected to what is “normal”. Individuals with Autism do-not need to be corrected or solved, rather they need to be accepted as they are.
A new alternate symbol is a rainbow colored infinity (or a lying down 8). The colors represent the diversity in Autism spectrum. The infinity symbol suggests the possibilities and abilities many individuals have. In the year 2025, this new symbol is one of inclusion and acceptance, rather than medicalization of a personality characteristic.
Other potential symbols are a blue light, or a golden ribbon. A time-line of Autism terminology and symbols is a testament to the changing times, as well as our understanding of Autism. I will wait for a new symbol to appear on a postage stamp, so that Jigsaw officially becomes a history.
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