wearing autism related symbols in public - your experience?

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I have a pin I wear on my work apron that has the infinity symbol and the colors of the most commonly used autism flag on a pawprint. Mostly I just get compliments on the aesthetic.

Once so far, someone has asked what the symbol represents. I told him it is the autistic symbol. I was then asked if I had someone in my family with autism. I just said yes and left it at that - when you're working you don't really have the time or need to explain such things. (Also I didn't want to hear stuff like "you don't look autistic".)

Once I had a sticker of the autistic creature. Someone asked me if it was from a videogame and I said no, and I didn't go into details.

I'm so far out in the boondocks no one would know what they represented. Everyone here still of autism as the puzzle piece. I was able to educate a few people about how the puzzle pieces were offensive but I don't think they were truly from around here.

Please enlighten me about the puzzle pieces symbol to be offensive ? seriously , idk ?
Thought anything to bring unity or attn. to the cause of Autism ...seemed like people still know little of its,
even existing .

kinda was hoping it was some kinda thing about Autism Research..? Like they are still putting the pieces of the Autistic puzzle together ?. some of them depict the puzzle missing one piece..that made me think of the concept of trying to get ongoing research or understanding of the issues .??.
But No am not fond of Autism speaks ..but thought the symbol seemed insightful...?

TYVM for the explaination...

I kinda like the puzzle piece tbh, but the connection with Autism Speaks sours it

I admire that people can wear pins and t-shirts. I find a generic non-descript look with not messages suits me best. I have MST3K and Rifftrax T-shirts and I very rarely (think once a year or two) wear them when I need to do laundry. It goes back to not wanting to attract attention and avoiding conversation. I have MST3K pins as well, and I've never been a pin person, for the same reason and I don't like attachments. I like the pins. I like the t-shirts. I only wear plain t-shirts. There was a time in my twenties when I had a Tom Baker Dr. Who t-shirt and I felt self conscious about it. I stopped wearing that because it was stolen.

So even if I had Autism related pins, or t-shirts, or shirts with Art, or shirts related to STEM support, I can't imagine wearing them. I like looking generic and being unnoticed.

I just look at t-shirts available with a positive message about Autism. I really like them. I believe in the message.

I thought Autism Speaks used a single puzzle piece, typically blue. To me it suggests an unsolved puzzle with something not where it fits and it is sad (blue). I'd rather not think of Autism like that.

I rather like the picture of a bunch of different color puzzle pieces put together. It suggests the puzzle piece fits in.

Also, the multi-puzzle piece pattern is widely recognized, isn't it? Better recognized than other symbols.

Plus, I enjoyed a conversation I had with my bride regarding awareness ribbons. She's ADHD and I noted to her that the ADHD awareness ribbon is orange (I think that is kind of appropriate for her...it is sort of like a warning ribbon!) She then asked me what color the Autism awareness ribbon was. I was looking at something like the ribbon below so I paused and then said "Well...it's complicated..." (Which seems appropriate for Autism to me.)

yes the above colours are what I expected for a Aspie flag, but early ones had one piece left out, if I recall ?

The official autism symbol made by actual autistic people is a golden infinity sign. Because AU is the chemical symbol for gold and also the first two letters in the world "AUtism" A rainbow colored one can be used as well but it's also used for general neurodiversity such as AD/HD.

I've heard bad stuff about the autistic creature, but I like Autisticat, which is a cat wearing a ribbon shaped like the infinity symbol and its tail curved into the shape of a heart. I've even made a few hand-drawn comic strips featuring two anthropomorphic Autisticats who have to deal with obnoxious behavior the evil Puzzle Person, who is an anthropomorphic blue puzzle piece.
I've also made and uploaded some custom designs of Autisticat and other Autistic Acceptance on Animal Crossing NH.

Someone needs to offer the above pin for sale to the public.....hatpin or otherwise .