The Sheffield Autistic Society logo is changing. We have decided no longer to use a design based on jigsaw puzzle pieces – a symbol for autism that has been widely used for several decades. The reason for the change is in order to acknowledge a growing concern amongst the autistic community that the use of puzzle pieces reflects a potentially negative view of autism. To continue to use the symbol would be disrespectful to autistic people, a view that was expressed in a recent editorial in the journal Autism, which has now changed its own cover design accordingly.
Our new logo retains the familiar diamond shape and the colours of the previous version. Instead of the puzzle pieces, we have 4 circles of different colours, with perhaps the suggestion of different individual persons, autistic or otherwise, simply coming together.
We intend to replace our printed stationery, whenever we need to reprint it, in order to reflect this change.