Tattoos serve as powerful reminders of important life events, personal interests and loved ones. A growing trend in the tattoo community is the use of these permanent pieces of art as a way to show solidarity with, and inclusion in, the rising number of individuals effected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD.

ASD is a bio-neurological developmental disorder that affects 1 in 59 children in the United States and is generally typified by difficulty in language comprehension and expression, poor eye contact and general trouble with socialization.

The growing number of instances of ASD, as well as the interconnectedness made possible by the internet, has helped people around the world unite and create a support group around ASD.

As we will see, the puzzle piece is an important symbol in the community and represents the complex nature of the disorder and the importance of helping each other to “solve the puzzle.”

Animal Autism Tattoos

Animals have been incorporated in tattoos since the beginning: some of the earliest tattoos used animals and other natural design elements.

However, animals in relation to autism take on another level of significance. Many researchers in the field of ASD have examined the powerful role animal therapy can play in dealing with children on the spectrum and discovered that the link between humans and animals can help children with ASD develop the social skills that so many struggle with.

Here are some autism tattoos that incorporate animals into their designs.

This is a lovely tattoo that uses an image from a popular Disney movie to create a symbol of unity with those suffering from ASD.

The multi-colored puzzle pieces on the shell prominently display the importance of this issue to the wearer, who possibly chose this character based on their child’s love of the movie. The tattoo itself is well executed.