neutral color; deep shades like charcoal can have the same oppressive effects as black lighter shades are more forgiving. It can also be depicted, and this is my preferred version while educating parents, as a rainbow where the colors blend and overlap. However, few have succeeded, leaving the throne still vacant. The infinity symbol can represent math and a love of numbers, something shared by many people on the autism spectrum. The campaign is called Light It Up Blue, and it's designed to be a recognizable symbol of autism to help make people aware of the disorder. This is a question which I have seen raised multiple times (especially in the lead up to World Autism Awareness Day) and, with the help of both my marketing degree and own perspective of being autistic, today I aim to find both an answer to what colour represents autism, while simultaneously frustrating every non-U.K. reader by spelling ‘colour’ the correct way the British way. Whole buildings or cities sometimes install blue lights to shine at night. This book explains how colour coding helps young people with autism to generalise lessons already learnt. And, if you want to hear more about controversial items used to portray autism, then why not check out my article on The Autism Puzzle Piece Debate. Instead, autism is a spectrum of abilities and challenges. What is the Difference? Even in the world of literature, it’s hard not to see a hopeful yellow background with a powerful red centre and think of Superman. After finding a raft of negativity when Googling his condition, James Sinclair set out on a mission to redefine how autism is viewed online. Used to portray the autistic spectrum in its full diverse entirety, the use of a rainbow (usually not far away from an infinity symbol) is a great solution to the autism communities indecisiveness and its connotations with joy and optimism make it a welcome one at that. Blue is the color associated with Autism Speaks as an organization, but it also means more to people on the autism spectrum. I think your statement on gold is spot on and your thoughts on the current autism symbol definitely make me think that I have spent too much time in anti-puzzle piece echo chambers. Often, the symbol shows two different colors of people or hands to represent acceptance of differences. So yeah, make of that what you will, and I hope you enjoy what you see. This is a partial list of awareness ribbons.The meaning behind an awareness ribbon depends on its colors and pattern. but sometimes it feels like during April, I'm not allowed to like blue. A puzzle isn't complete without every piece- just like the world and the people in it. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition. The iconic colour of the U.K’s National Autistic Society, purple is a natural progression away from blue, due to having the same hues as the colour but better connotations, such as imagination and being the most powerful wavelength of a rainbow (which in itself is a spectrum). On one hand, I am very grateful for you sharing but, on the other, I now feel like I have to include a whole new section in my previous puzzle piece article haha! You'll see it often during Autism Awareness Month. They succinctly stated that “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. However, at that time, blue was also chosen as autism was widely considered a male-only condition – an idea which has since been proven wrong and, in many ways, damaging for female representation on the spectrum. Tone it down Taupe may not be the most obvious choice for autism colour but, since 2013, it’s underdog nature makes it an exceptionally endearing alternative, when all other colours are blitzing skylines on April 2nd (and hey, it’s coincidentally quite close to my site’s colour – so it gets my vote!). Room for everyone so to speak. It can symbolize a feeling of calm and acceptance in a world that can be very loud and challenging sometimes. Blue is the color associated with Autism Speaks as an organization, but it also means more to people on the autism spectrum. Over the years, many challengers have arisen seeking to take the crown of the definitive autism colour. © 2006-2021 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. Learning which symbol goes with which organization and a bit of the meaning behind these colors and designs can help you make sense of bumper stickers, logos, and other graphics. The Psychology of Color The concept of color psychology, or chromology, is a hot topic in marketing, art, and design. The butterfly symbolizes beauty in diversity, change in its own time, and continuing development. Did you ever wonder why blue is the color of choice for the autism awareness day? White color could make them feel depressive and excessively tired. Later, when Light It Up Blue began it also gave us the opportunity to start an even larger conversation about autism by wearing blue. Please help us improve. With heavy ties to passion and love, two things which autistic people are often misaccused of being incapable of, red has become a fast favourite, despite being held back by its connections with rage and anger – associations which don’t do it any favours, especially when the colour was originally intended as a protest above all. The brightness of the ribbon signals Read More Please note that the views and opinions expressed on this site are from one person (me). However, I am now starting to see the positives because of these comments. Autism & Alcohol: The Effects of Drinking on the Spectrum, The Intense World Theory of Autism Explained, Finding Jobs for Autistic People: A Complete Guide to Autism and Employment, All You Need to Know About Autism Support Workers (From an Autism Support Worker), 10 Tips to Improve Autistic Confidence & Self-Esteem, Why Santa Is Autistic (And Why It Matters), 10 Unmissable Autism Books to Look Forward to in 2021, The Predator (2018): Autism’s Biggest Backhanded Compliment, 3 Exciting New Autism Books I’m Currently Reading, The Top 5 Pieces of Autism News for Winter 2021, The BIGGEST and Most MEMORABLE Autism Highlights of 2020, The Top 5 Pieces of Autism News for November 2020, how controversial the autism puzzle piece is, 20 Ideal Hobbies, Activities and Sports for People with Autism, 10 Gifts for Autistic Children, Teenagers and Adults. Used by those who want to see a move away from autism awareness and on to autism acceptance, gold is a colour commonly associated with wisdom, enlightenment and optimism. The most common color/symbol combination is the blue puzzle piece, the logo of Autism Speaks, an amalgamation of various parent founded groups whose priority has been a “cure” for autism, and has dehumanized autistic people in the past. What colour do you think should represent autism? A classic color combination featured on many logos, the rainbow color scheme symbolizes the idea of autism as a "spectrum." As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com. These disorders are characterized by problems with communication and social interaction. The National Autistic Society no longer uses this design. More than three decades later, in 1999, the Autism Societytr… Autism Awareness Colors and Symbols and What They Mean, Behavioral Characteristics in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Happy Easter to Family and Friends: 40+ Upbeat Messages, Aries Zodiac Sign: Guide to Meaning & Personality, Step Aerobics Routines You Can Do At Home, Things to Do with Autistic Children in Kindergarten. The puzzle piece is usually associated with the idea that autistic people being incomplete ("until all the pieces fit"and stuff like that). Personally, as an asexual autistic person I associate purple with the asexual flag (black, grey, white & purple). So, today I’m going to talk about when and how to teach colors to a child with autism, and what autism colors to … In fact only autistic people are on the autistic spectrum. I can't even begin to imagine how much more frustrating that becomes when blue is your favourite colour in the first place. Why settle for one colour when you can have them all? While the world of autism was a blank canvas for much of the late 20th century, with most of the discussions surrounding autism taking place in laboratories and psychologist catch-ups (fun), changes in understanding in the early 2000s meant that autism awareness became a top priority for the newly formed autistic community and, as such, we needed colours to fly our flag and grab attention. The iconic colour of the U.K’s National Autistic Society, purple is a natural progression away from blue, due to having the same hues as the colour but better connotations, such as imagination and being the most powerful wavelength of a rainbow (which in itself is a spectrum). Well, I would go for purple - only because it’s my favourite colour! Many on the autism spectrum have an affinity for math-related symbology. It's also a symbol of the beauty of a different perspective. I like the puzzle piece too. This is a common phrase used with the ribbon: "The puzzle pattern of this ribbon reflects the mystery and complexity of autism. enable_page_level_ads: true Mood Colors: Meaning and Associations of Color Psychology - Chart showing various colors, the color meaning and what it symbolizes, for those who may be looking for ideas in designing new colored awareness bracelets and ribbons. The ribbon color meanings are distinct, so it’s worth taking the time to find the right one. Take for example the healthy green hues of the Samaritans’ logo or the sleek, futuristic black of the Apple apple. I do still believe there are better options that we should aim for though, as I whole-heartedly believe that there is something out there we can all agree on but, then again, maybe I'm living in a dream world haha! These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. To me, it means that the world is incomplete without us. In stark contrast to the Brit boy band of the same name, Blue’s popularity only rose during the late 2000s. Those are the colors that are used in the autism awareness ribbon. Other organizations, such as the Autism Self Advocacy Network, use a rainbow-colored wreath design with intertwining bands of multiple colors. Autistic & Unapologetic is an autism awareness site founded by one lad on a journey to find out what makes him (autis)tic. This is actually a widely debated statistic that’s come about because the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose autism is written towards boys typical behavior. The Autism Awareness Ribbon — The puzzle pattern reflects the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum. Ribbons are also popular choices for other well-known causes, like the pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness. Light it Up Blue Normally, neurotypical children love red and blue colors, that’s why so many toys and cartoons are printed in red because they are drawn to the color. We each have something unique to offer for the world and the communities around us. Used to highlight the somewhat ironic nature of the Light It Up Blue campaign, which features dazzling lights and overwhelming publicity events to raise awareness of a community who suffer from sensory processing issues. Several organizations, including the UK's National Autistic Society, use the symbol of clasped hands to represent the idea of acceptance and support - both for those with autism and for their families. If we could choose our own, you can be sure that I would go with polka dots! Yet, views about the iconic marker are as diverse and wide-ranging as the spectrum it represents. The Color of Autism Foundation. The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most enduring and recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Yes, it’s a fact that, for any given thing, there is a colour to reflect it. Plus, no puzzle piece (in one puzzle) is the same. It’s brightly colored to symbolize hope. According to the Art of Autism, the butterfly is developing as an alternative to the traditional and sometimes controversial puzzle piece. It is controversial, due to the idea of not fitting in. According to the journal Autism, the first logo featuring the puzzle piece was for a British organization called the National Autistic Society. Janet Sebelius disagrees with this symbol. Not the rainbow. Deployed Military Ribbon: Yellow Purple is also considered rare in nature which could be seen as a negative, due to making autism seem a lot less prominent than it actually is. I could honestly write an entire article on the colour blue alone. Once you learn how to recognize and interpret them all, use the ones that resonate with you personally or create your own symbol to show how you feel about ASD. Why wasn't this page useful? Decorators use color to create excitement, peace, creativity, and calm. This is probably a conversation for another day but, for now, just know that their messages haven’t exactly been something the autism community wants our colour tied to. That makes me sad because it doesn't recognize the value of people with autism. Some researchers suggest it is because the baby needs to discriminate different emotional status from people, for example, an angry face and a … There's also a focus on unity, since all the colors work together to create the design. I may be biased because I'm a huge puzzle geek, but I really like the puzzle piece. Rainbow Moebius strip is my favorite autism symbol, I've been using it for over a decade. I think of the puzzle piece for awareness as how people with autistic traits are a piece of the world and we all together make a full picture. However, despite this dedicated determination for accuracy, I am only human and sadly that means I can never be 100% certain that what I write is error free. I think each person God creates is precious, so I like the puzzle piece one, again as in everyone fits into the world. This symbol has been around since 1963, and a number of organizations use it, including Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, and many others. One of the most distinct ribbon designs is the colorful puzzle ribbon for autism awareness. Connecting Families to Culturally Competent Support I'm also fine with gold & red, though aesthetically I don't like the look of taupe. I've met some amazing people with autism. (Note the spelling...) I don’t think I can offer any other helpful comment. It is now associated with autism in the general pubic, though I cannot find any reason as to why they chose this specific color. Chosen due to the periodic symbol for the element gold: Au, gold may be much rarer than most other colours on this list, but it’s inoffensive nature and clever origin make it a strong contender for autism colour. Another puzzle piece alternative put forward by the Art of Autism, the infinity symbol - either in rainbow tones or a solid color. We not only belong, but without us, the world is missing something. From being MILD to SEVERE, no two persons are alike. In addition, like many charities, AS has trouble getting money to those it is allegedly helping. A person on the spectrum may not develop skills according to established milestones schedules, but they will continue to develop. Autistic children and adults tend to have heightened senses, and the way they see or perceive color is likely heightened as well due to sensory differences. On World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, Autism Speaks encourages everyone to wear blue or use blue lights in their home or office. Blue has always been my favourite colour. Put forward in 2015 to stand as a direct contrast to Autism Speaks ‘light it up blue’ campaign, red is a striking colour often used for raising awareness of the neurodiversity movement. Many autism awareness organizations have symbols to make them more recognizable and increase understanding. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. On suggestions for alternate symbols, Joanne Lara, Bev Leroux, and April Dawn Griffin like this symbol. If you like what you have seen on the site today, then show your support by liking the Autistic & Unapologetic Facebook page. Your comment has made me look at the Puzzle Piece in a whole different way. Far as the colors go, I would say red, yellow, blue, and light blue. Adopted in 1999, the puzzle ribbon signifies the complexity of the autism spectrum and the diversity of people and families who have autism, according to the Autism Society. The colour then gained further traction in 2007 when the same charity created the Light it up Blue campaign: a  World Autism Awareness Day initiative, which saw landmarks, celebs and everything else imaginable bathed in the charity’s colours around the world. If anything, we should be celebrating what it stands for (and not what it is associated with). It can symbolize a feeling of calm and acceptance in a world that can be very loud and challenging sometimes. People on the spectrum belong. The study is the first to look at a particular type of learning, called visual statistical learning, in children with autism. The rainbow is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements in use since the 1970s in USA................. Oh my, I never ever considered the possibility of having a printed colour scheme! However, it has also been seen as a colour for royals, which makes it perfect to take the aforementioned autism colour crown. #2: Pair with a Relevant Message or Call-to-Action You want your marketing, whether it’s a social media post or a giant banner, to be extremely clear at first glance. In America at least that stands for transgender, lebian, bisexual, gay...... a puzzle piece of any color I see used often for autism. Your comment was extremely helpful. This is not what ‘autistic spectrum’ is meant to mean. This was due to a myriad of factors but rooted at the centre of them all was the American charity Autism Speaks – which was launched in 2005 and featured a blue puzzle piece as their logo. Autism, Love and Marriage: Can a Person with Autism be in a Relationship. The logo was reportedly designed to show that autism caused suffering and that children with the disorder would not "fit in" to society. There are lots of symbols and colors associated with autism spectrum disorders, but they may not all represent you or how you feel about autism. These discussions are all about perspective and sharing yours makes a HUGE difference. For better or worse (but mostly worse), many gravitated towards the colour blue – due to its connotations with calmness and acceptance. Thank you for sharing c: It is a high contender and whoever thought of the reason behind it is no doubt a genius! }); For any queries, personal and professional, Email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com, © 2017-2020, James Sinclair, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Grey tones and dull colors have a calming effect, while blue and green colors also have a soothing and calming effect on them. Autism is recognized by a puzzle piece representing the mystery and complexity of the disorder. The spectrum is characterized by the brightly colored puzzle piece ribbon to signify the diversity of the disorder. This symbolizes inclusiveness and equality because it has no beginning or end, and it also represents the spectrum of abilities and challenges that make up the community of people with autism. Colors of autism spectrum described by researchers Date: May 18, 2016 Source: McMaster University Summary: Children with autism have a wide range of … But which colour represents autism? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ if you can, try to keep the environment orderly, calm, and monochromatic; be wary of high contrast color options and patterns; some individuals with autism may see colors with greater intensity than those without autism Individuals with autism are unique and have a variety of strengths and challenges, and it's impossible to classify them under a simple diagnosis. Yet, the transition from one color to the next on a rainbow is similar to the transition from mild to severe autism. With its different colors and combinations, for some, it better represents the diversity of people living on the autistic spectrum. In the autism world, there seems to be a big push to teaching colors to kids with autism. Other. While I myself have my own preferences, which will become clear soon enough, here is a slightly unbias rundown of the bookies’ favourites: Maybe it’s because old habits die hard or maybe it’s because all the pre-bought blue autism merch can’t be refunded, but it seems that when it comes to assigning a new autism colour, some people have taken the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach – despite the reality being that blue is almost certainly ‘broke’ as a colour (but let’s not repeat ourselves). Now longtime readers will know just how controversial the autism puzzle piece is, however, I rarely discuss how damaging the pushers of this piece are themselves. 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