This is a really important piece to me. I have been talking with an autistic friend of mine and we both feel it's important to change the stereo type that there is something wrong or missing from autistic individuals.
I have to say since discovering I'm autistic at the ripe old age of 40, and validating my suspicions with a full out evaluation, and subsequent diagnosis, I am so RELIEVED to receive my diagnosis.
I am proud to finally discover there is absolutely nothing wrong with me except I just think differently than most people. My understanding of how the world works is fundamentally different, and I always thought there was something wrong with me.
Turns out that is not the case. In fact, I am fine just as I am. Take it or leave it.
Since discovering I'm autistic, I have noticed there is a narrative that is being told where autistic individuals are fundamentally broken and need to be fixed in order to function in this world.
This makes me sad. Extremely sad. In some ways I feel lucky I slipped through the cracks in the 80's and 90's, when not much was understood about autism.
Many people associate the puzzle piece with autistic individuals. I really hate the idea of this because it implies autistic individuals are a mystery in some way and/or we need to be figured out. It has negative connotations to it.
I have discovered a fantastic alternative with the infinity symbol being used along with the rainbow because we are a spectrum of people. None of us are the same, in fact we are all so incredibly different. Our lives are full of richness and we are distinctly ornate.
It makes me so sad the world we have created is one where we have been taught to ignore what makes us so unique, and even make us feel bad for being so different.
This piece is for you, my autistic brothers and sisters. This piece represents each and every one of us in our neurodiversity, standing together in support of one another. We are all precious and are worthy of love and acceptance.
You can watch the concept of this piece being created in my very first Youtube video: