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   Origin & Founder

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• Created by: The National Autistic Society (NAS) in the United Kingdom

• Year: 1963

• Designer: A board member of NAS, Gerald Gasson, is a parent of an autistic child

 

  Rationale Behind the Puzzle Piece

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• The puzzle piece was chosen to represent the idea that autism was a "mystery" or an "enigma" to be solved.

• The original 1963 logo depicted a green puzzle piece with a weeping child inside it, implying that autistic children were isolated and misunderstood.

• The choice of a puzzle piece reflected a deficit-based view of autism; many perceived this image to suggest that autistic people were "missing" something or were a confusing problem to be solved.​

 

 Why the "Puzzle Piece" is Disliked

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1. Pathologizing Imagery: The original depiction of a crying child inside a puzzle piece was viewed as tragic and dehumanizing.

2. Focus on Deficits: Many believe the symbol implies something is wrong or incomplete about autistic individuals.

3. No Input from Autistic People: The symbol was created without consultation from autistic individuals, and many have expressed that they don’t relate to or support it.

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 Shift Away from the Puzzle Piece

 

• In recent years, many advocacy groups, educators, and autistic self-advocates have rejected the puzzle piece in favor of symbols created by or supported by neurodivergent people themselves.

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   Why the Change:

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• “Autism” is a medical diagnosis, often defined through a deficit-based lens in clinical settings (e.g., DSM-5).

• “Neurodivergent” is not a diagnosis—it is a social and identity-based term created within the neurodiversity movement to describe natural variations in how people think, feel, and process the world.

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   Key Reasons for the Change:

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1. Inclusive Language:

   • “Neurodivergent” includes autism and other neurological differences, allowing people to find solidarity across conditions rather than being siloed.

   • Autism alone does not capture the full diversity of minds.

2. Shift in Perspective:

   • The neurodivergent framework focuses on difference, not disorder.

   • It shifts from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “How does your brain work?”

3. Self-Advocacy:

   • Many autistic people prefer neurodivergent language because it rejects stigma, embraces identity, and reclaims power from medicalized narratives.

   • It's empowering: “I’m not broken, I’m just wired differently.”

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​  Origin of the Word “Neurodivergent”

• Coined by: Kassiane Asasumasu (an autistic activist and advocate)

• Year: Early 2000s

• Broader Concept: Evolved from the term "neurodiversity", first coined by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist (also autistic), in the late 1990s.

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  Definition

• Neurodiversity: The idea that neurological differences (like autism, ADHD, dyslexia) are natural variations of the human brain, not deficits.

• Neurodivergent: Refers to individuals whose neurological makeup diverges from the “neurotypical” population.

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    Introduced by: Autistic and neurodivergent self-advocacy communities

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• Symbol: A rainbow-colored infinity symbol 

• Year of widespread adoption: Around 2005–2010, gaining more traction in the 2010s and becoming more widely recognized by 2020s

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   Rationale for the Infinity Symbol

• The infinity shape represents:

  • The diversity of the autism spectrum (and neurodivergent minds in general)

  • The infinite possibilities and variations in thinking, perception, and abilities

• The rainbow colors emphasize:

  • Diversity across the spectrum

  • Inclusion of all people, regardless of where they fall on the neurological spectrum

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    Let's answer 3 questions to discover whether the infinity symbol is a true representation of the neurodivergent population.

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    1.  The infinity symbol is the same exact symbol that is used in the Leviathan cross that represents infinity for satanic worshipers.

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a symbol in the Can infinity be reached within a contained space?

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    2   Created by Neurodivergent People: Unlike the puzzle piece, the infinity symbol was adopted by the community itself.

1. Focuses on Strengths and Diversity: It shifts the lens from “fixing” or “solving” autism to celebrating neurological differences.

2. Positive, Inclusive Representation: Seen as empowering rather than stigmatizing.

 

Is the Infinity Symbol a Good Representation of Autism?

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Yes – Here’s Why:

• It embraces the spectrum nature of autism, acknowledging that no two autistic people are the same.

• It is non-pathologizing—it does not imply something is broken, missing, or wrong.

• It celebrates neurodiversity, aligning with modern values of inclusion, self-advocacy, and acceptance.

• It allows for intersectionality—the symbol also represents people with ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, and more.

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🔄 Summary Table: Puzzle Piece vs. Infinity Symbol

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FeaturePuzzle PieceInfinity Symbol

Founded ByNational Autistic Society (UK), 1963Neurodivergent advocates, early 2000s

Original MeaningAutism as a “mystery” or “missing piece”Diversity, inclusion, and infinite variation

Visual MeaningFragmented, incomplete, sadnessUnity, possibility, spectrum-wide inclusion

Public Perception NowOutdated, pathologizingEmpowering, self-advocacy centered

Used ByAutism Speaks, older charitiesNeurodivergent-led movements

If you’re building autism-related materials or programs today, using the rainbow infinity symbol and centering neurodivergent voices is considered the more respectful and inclusive approach.