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A symbol of individuality, strength, resilience, and unlimited potential across the autism spectrum
Why I Created The Gold Butterfly™
The Gold Butterfly™ was created to celebrate the individuality, identity, inherent worth, and lifelong development of every autistic person.
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As the mother of an autistic young adult, a healthcare professional, and an advocate, I have witnessed autism’s complexities through both clinical knowledge and lived experience: the challenges, accomplishments, setbacks, and perseverance that shape each person’s journey. One question stayed with me: How can one symbol represent such a diverse population while honoring each individual?
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I was especially concerned about individuals who feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or set apart by diagnostic labels, or who prefer not to have their diagnosis publicly identified. Others
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For this reason, The Gold Butterfly™ contains no diagnostic wording. It allows individuals to express connection without placing a diagnosis at the forefront of how they are seen. It invites the world to recognize the whole person, their dignity, value, potential, and everything that makes them unique.
From that vision, The Gold Butterfly™ was born.
Looking Beyond Traditional Autism Symbols
For decades, different symbols have been used to represent autism, acceptance, awareness, and neurodiversity. While I recognize that many individuals connect deeply with these symbols, I have never felt that any one of them fully expressed what I wanted the world to understand about autism.
The Rainbow — A Symbol With Many Meanings
The rainbow is beautiful and widely recognized, with meanings across cultures, communities, and beliefs—including LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, hope, and the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. That range of meanings, however, raised a personal concern.
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As my autistic son entered adulthood, he felt uncomfortable wearing rainbow imagery because others might interpret it as a statement about his sexual orientation rather than his autism identity. His feelings prompted a question: Shouldn’t autistic individuals have the option of a distinctive symbol that communicates their autism identity more clearly?
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My concern has never been about diminishing another community. Everyone deserves respect and representation. I also considered how the rainbow expresses lifelong development. Its colors convey diversity, but its familiar arrangement does not visibly change with new skills, personal goals, or accomplishments. To me, it does not directly evoke the transition from childhood to adulthood, changing support needs, growing self-understanding, or life’s many possible paths. Others may find those meanings in it; I wanted imagery that brought them to mind more directly.
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A fixed image can carry an evolving story. The butterfly’s connection to life stages offered that possibility, while honoring that growth follows no single timetable and worth never depends on reaching milestones.
I created an additional option rooted in my experience of autism, one that celebrates individuality, lifelong development, and dignity at every stage, and that individuals can choose because it reflects their experiences, identities, and values.
The Puzzle Piece — A Symbol That Has Sparked Debate
The puzzle piece has long been associated with autism. Some see complexity, connection, and a search for understanding; others, including some autistic self-advocates, find it uncomfortable because it suggests incompleteness or someone waiting to be “solved.” While not everyone shares that interpretation, it raises a concern that matters deeply to me: No autistic individual is an unfinished puzzle. No one should have to prove their wholeness, worth, or right to belong.
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To my eyes, a standalone piece suggests a larger picture awaiting completion—an impression that remains unchanged as someone grows or celebrates accomplishments. I wanted a symbol that expressed wholeness from the beginning, independent of milestones, and celebrated each person’s distinct identity, strengths, experiences, needs, and immeasurable human worth.
The Infinity Symbol —Limitless Possibilities, but Where Is the Individual?
I respect the infinity symbol’s message of endless possibilities, diversity, neurodiversity, and acceptance. Personally, however, I find its abstract, mathematical design—with no visible beginning or end—difficult to connect with.
An infinity-shaped loop also appears at the base of the Leviathan cross. Although these symbols have distinct meanings, that visual overlap contributes to my preference for another representation.
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To my eyes, the repeating loop suggests circling the same path rather than visibly reflecting growth, goals, or accomplishments. This is my response to the design, not my view of autistic lives or their potential.
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I wanted imagery that more directly expressed the individual within that diversity: childhood and adulthood, communication and connection, challenges and accomplishments, support and self-determination, and the growth, adaptation, and experiences that shape a life.
Why a Butterfly?
I chose the butterfly to express individuality, development, beauty, and transformation. Its distinct life stages reflect lifelong development while honoring that autistic individuals have different pathways, timelines, abilities, and support needs.
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The butterfly’s unique patterns and colors inspired the fingerprint designs within The Gold Butterfly™ wings. Recognizable expressions of human individuality, these patterns are more than decoration: they represent each person’s distinct identity and life story, beyond a diagnosis, category, or level of support.
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The butterfly’s journey is symbolic, never an expectation to change who someone is. Growth does not mean becoming less autistic. It means having opportunities to learn, adapt, participate, and flourish as one’s authentic self.
This is Not A Typical Butterfly
Learn more about he details surrounding The Gold Butterfly on my blog:
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​Every element of The Gold Butterfly™ has been intentionally incorporated into its design. Together, these elements express the complexity of the autism spectrum while recognizing the individuality of those who experience it.
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Explore how each element of The Gold Butterfly represents the uniqueness, individuality, milestones, advocacy, and growth throughout life.
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Get a comprehensive breakdown of the meaning behind the details in my blog: "The Gold Butterfly™: More Than a Symbol — A New Expression of Individuality, Strength, Resilience, and Hope"
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A Meaningful Detail: The Colors Spell AUTISM
The five colors of The Gold Butterfly™ were chosen with intention. Together, their identifying letters form AU–T–I–S–M, adding another layer of meaning to the design:
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AU — Gold: Represented by the chemical symbol Au, gold signifies inherent value, worth, and potential.
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T — Teal
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I — Indigo Blue
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S — Sapphire Pink: Represents possibility, hope, and emerging identity.
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M — Mulberry: Represents resilience, strength, leadership, and contribution.​
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These five colors form the original palette of The Gold Butterfly™ and are integral to its intended symbolism.
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Alternate color variations are welcome for artistic expression, accessibility, education, or personal preference. The original palette preserves the complete color symbolism envisioned for the design.
The Meaning Behind The Details
One Symbol. Many Meanings. Every Life Matters