Bristol City Council Upset Over Puzzle Piece

The use of puzzle pieces for autistic people is offensive

Bristol City Council has caused upset by continuing to use the puzzle piece in its communication with neurodivergent families.

The symbol was first used in the UK from the 1960s before later being adopted by American organisation Autism Speaks.

Use of the symbol has long been derided by autistic people.

it often uses bright primary colours considered to be infantilising. It all suggests that autistic people are a ‘puzzle’ needing to be fixed.

Puzzle pieces are also connected to Autism Speaks, a controversial American organisation

Autism Speaks’ historic campaigning has portrayed autism as a thing to be feared. Its advertising carried frightening and stigmatising images and messaging.

The organisation has also been ABA and cure-focused rather than advocating and working with autistic led representation.

The autism community favours a rainbow or gold infinity symbol.

Bristol City Council has again used the puzzle piece to advertise its communication around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send).

In a post on the Local Offer, Bristol City Council said: “We’ve been working with children, young people, families and partner organisations to improve our SEND communications.”

A Bristol Send parent, who asked not to be named, said: “Hoe ironic in a post about improving Send communications that a puzzle piece has been used. The symbol has been widely rejected by the autism community. Another blunder from the council failing to work properly with autistic people.”

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