The Puzzle Piece Debate: Re-Examining The Puzzle Piece’s Role In Autism Advocacy & Support
The puzzle piece is one of the most recognized and debated symbols in autism advocacy. At Potential, our Founder, President & CEO Kristine Quinby is often asked what it really means and why it’s still used.
Whether or not you’re familiar with the puzzle piece in association with words like “normal”, “puzzling”, and “suffering” to describe its symbolism and use, it helps to explore the context and history based on lived experiences and early research – and its evolution in modern autism advocacy and support.
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Unpacking The Puzzle Piece: Myth vs. Meaning
The puzzle piece symbol was designed in 1963 by Gerald Gasson, a father and board member for the National Autistic Society (formerly The Society for Autistic Children) in London. According to the Lantern, the design choice is explained in the notes from the society’s 1963 executive meeting. In those notes, the Committee decided that the symbol of the society should be the puzzle – as it did not look like any other commercial or charitable icon as far as they could discover.
At this time, the puzzle piece outline also contained a crying child – to convey the struggle autistic individuals go through from a lack of understanding. And while the imagery around the initial design has evolved to eliminate the crying child, it’s often the words from founding board member of the NAS, Helen Allison, that ignites controversy around its meaning.
“The puzzle piece is so effective because it tells us something about autism: our children are handicapped by a puzzling condition; this isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not ‘fit in’. The suggestion of a weeping child is a reminder that autistic people do indeed suffer from their handicap.”
— Helen Allison, Founding Member of the National Autistic Society
It’s important to know that Allison explained the puzzle piece’s meaning based on the knowledge she had at the time – which wasn’t much in the 1960s. She spoke not just as a board member of the NAS, but also as a mother of a child with autism.
Her son was also struggling to receive support and understanding at a time when autism was not well documented, defined, or even acknowledged. At the time, child psychiatrists deemed her son “mute” and “hyperactive”, and not capable of being educated as a result of their findings. Over time, Allison’s words have been reinterpreted – especially as language and understanding around autism have evolved.
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Helen Allison’s Lasting Legacy
Beyond her original explanation of the puzzle piece symbol, Helen Allison remained a driving force in autism advocacy and research throughout her life – turning personal struggle into a legacy that reshaped autism support worldwide.
She was well educated and studied history at Vassar College which was a women’s only institution at the time until it became coeducational in 1969. It was during her time at Vassar where she earned a rare academic honor by joining the prestigious academic group Phi Beta Kappa Society in her junior year by invitation. She also obtained a Fulbright Fellowship to read Arabic and Persian languages, literature, and history for 3 years at Oxford University.
However, it was her son Joseph (Joe) who prompted her journey into a movement that would define much of her career and life moving forward. It was on this path that she would eventually be awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work in supporting those with autism.
In 1958, Allison was living with her first husband, Anthony (Tony), who was a pioneering geneticist who studied resistance to malaria, and their two boys, Joe and Miles. It was during this time that she noticed behaviors in Joe – such as agitation and avoidance of eye contact.
She read an article shared with her from a friend in America that described a number of changes a group of parents made to accommodate their autistic child at home to better support their needs. This article inspired her to turn her suspicions into action, establishing a Society for Autistic Children (SAC) in the United Kingdom, to create a better world for her son to live in.
By 1962, Helen’s family life had become overwhelming, and her son Joe’s behavior was so intense that the home was in constant disarray with locked doors, broken furniture, stained walls, and sleepless nights. She faced exhaustion, isolation, and a desperate search for help – a message that echoes the experiences many parents still share today.
She was eventually introduced to Sybil Elgar, a Montessori-trained teacher running a small nursery in her home for children with complex needs. This meeting marked the beginning of a transformative partnership for both women. In 1968, Helen left the National Society for Autistic Children and joined the UK Medical Research Council, gaining insight into British bureaucracy. That same year, she and Sybil opened the first school for autistic children in north London where her son attended as a weekly boarder.
She later helped establish a second school in Kent, named the Helen Allison School, which officially opened in 1973 as part of the NAS Education Group. A year later, she co-founded Somerset Court, the UK’s first residential community for autistic young adults.
“Helen’s initial aspirations of getting the right education for children with autism and securing an environment in which adults with autism can flourish and fulfil their potential, remains the vision of the NAS today.”
— Mark Lever, Former President of the NAS
She passed away at 88 years of age in December 2011, just before the 50th anniversary of the NAS. By then, the organization had 6 schools, supported over 1,000 autistic adults, and served countless families and professionals across the UK.
The Evolution & Meaningful Reinterpretation Of The Puzzle Piece Ribbon Today
Reintroduced in 1999 as a puzzle piece ribbon, the symbol often continues to be misunderstood. However, insight from autistic individuals like Thomas A. McKean explained that it was never meant to define autistic people – but rather to reflect the complexity of autism itself.
According to Thomas, the interlocking shapes represent the unknowns of autism – speaking to the condition of autism itself and not to any specific individual who has it. Meanwhile, the bright colors speak to its diversity across ages, abilities, and lived experiences. More than anything, the ribbon symbolizes hope for: acceptance, understanding, and opportunity. Its origins are rooted in community, advocacy, and the belief that a more informed and compassionate world is possible.
Why The Puzzle Piece Still Matters To Potential
You may notice modern designs alongside the puzzle piece that include the infinity symbol. This addition represents the idea of infinite possibilities and acceptance in autism advocacy and support.
“As an organization, we’ve chosen to continue using the puzzle piece because it’s a widely recognized symbol, while also incorporating the infinity symbol into some of our imagery to acknowledge and respect the different perspectives people have about autism representation.”
— Kristine Quinby, Potential’s Founder, President & CEO
Potential also fully acknowledges various perspectives around what the puzzle piece represents in autism advocacy and acceptance, including that it:
- Suggests autistic people are incomplete or need “fixing”
- Started with negative images that added to stigma
- Is linked to groups that have shared harmful messages about autism
- Doesn’t reflect or represent today’s view of autism as a difference
Reviewing the symbol’s history is an opportunity to move forward with reliable information in addition to other shared experiences. Ultimately, it’s up to an individual and organization to choose a symbol that best aligns with their mission.
As long as communities continue to work towards advocating for understanding, acceptance, and lifelong support for individuals with autism, the focus remains on what truly matters – creating a world where every person is valued and supported.
Every Individual Deserves A Path That Fits Their Needs, Wishes, & Life
“We don’t see a piece that’s missing from any individual. We see a person who deserves guided support. Every person deserves the right fit for their needs to feel heard, understood, and accepted – and that starts with us.”
— Kristine Quinby, Potential’s Founder, President & CEO
Potential continues to use the puzzle piece alongside the infinity symbol, not to suggest that anything is missing from autistic individuals, but because it also stands for collaboration, growth, and connection – shaping change over time.
Symbols may vary, but our purpose stays the same: to ensure every individual with autism is supported, understood, and given the tools they need to thrive. This is also why it’s important for thought leaders to show up and represent those with autism at conferences and events like the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) Conference and 51st Annual Association For Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Convention.
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