To many autistic people, the puzzle piece represents stigma, exclusion and a harmful push to make them conform.

While there is no official symbol for autism awareness (like the pink ribbon for breast cancer), advocates have used a few designs. The most recognized imagery for the diagnosis is a puzzle piece.

"My son was diagnosed with autism 5 years ago," Lais Ribeiro ... adding that the symbol — a ribbon covered with a puzzle piece pattern — is “beautiful and perfect just the way I wanted ...

The most popular symbols representing autism are the multi-colored puzzle piece or the multi-colored puzzle piece ribbon. The multi-colored puzzle piece was designed in 1963 by Gerald Gasson ...