Anyone doing puzzles during this time right now? 

I do enjoy puzzles and the sense of accomplishment when completed.  However, I have often looked at the puzzle piece, which has come to represent a connection to autism, and wondered where it came from. Is it because those on the autism spectrum are complicated and hard to figure out, a mystery of sorts. Is it because we don’t know the cause and there is no one way to work with those diagnosed? No “cure” per se?

Or, perhaps it is because while our kids may look like all the other kids, it is hard to know how they fit into the big picture?  We see what the expectations are but not quite sure how our children and students fit in.  We are pretty sure that they must because a place has been created for them but how is the work at hand. 

I can get behind that meaning in some ways however I like to think of a mosaic instead of a puzzle. Mosaics are more free form and each piece is unique but you figure out how to make room for it.  Each piece can vary in color, shape, size, texture but all have a place because we create the space for each piece. Perhaps the mosaic has boundaries to it or perhaps it doesn’t.  Maybe it is open and you create the boundaries as you go along.  Sometimes, an extra piece gets added and you figure out where to place it. 

When I work with groups of people I have thought about this very thing.  Who do I have in front of me? How do I look at the skills and talents of each person and have everyone feel like there is a place for them? I think this thinking can help individuals become more self aware.  We want students and children to learn about who they are.  What their strengths are and their areas of development.  The more people know about themselves, they more they can accept it, own it and advocate for themselves.  Self advocacy can also help to educate others. It can be to educate a teacher, a family member, health care provider or an employer which can not only lead to understanding but also acceptance. 

Part of my work is to help individuals with autism better understand themselves but also to help all those that work with our kids better understand their diversity and understand that different people bring different things to the table.  I want to help our kids find their authentic selves and help create a space that is safe for them to be who they are.  While I know this may be idealistic, I think it is a goal worth working toward.