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If you follow along with Ryno’s adventures on social media, you already know that our family is all about celebrating his journey, sharing his wins, and opening up an honest dialogue about neurodiversity.

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Because we share so much of Ryno's life online and in our community, we often navigate the conversations surrounding autism symbols. If you’ve spent any time in the community recently, you know these symbols can spark a lot of debate. In particular, some organizations have historically used the traditional puzzle piece to imply that autistic people are a "mystery" or have a "missing piece" that needs to be solved.

We want to be completely clear: we do not believe that at all. Ryno is whole, complete, and exactly who he is meant to be.

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At the same time, there is a major shift happening right now—one that is moving away from just "autism awareness" and pushing toward true "autism acceptance." We fully support this movement. But as a family, we also believe that these two concepts don't have to be at war. You cannot accept something you are not aware of. Awareness opens the door; acceptance is what happens when you walk through it.

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Because we need both to build a better world for Ryno and the entire autistic community, our family proudly embraces both traditional and modern symbols to bridge that gap.

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A Symbol of Positivity and What Is Possible

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Symbols only hold the power we give them. While others may see a deficit, our family has always seen the puzzle piece as a symbol of positivity and what is possible. To us, it represents the beautiful, complex puzzle that is life itself.

Life for everyone is a series of trials, errors, and breakthroughs. For Ryno, that means figuring things out, mastering a new skill, and then figuring them out all over again as time, growth, and experience change the landscape.

Think about the feeling of working on an intricate jigsaw puzzle. It takes time, patience, and incredible effort. But who doesn’t feel 1000% accomplished when that final piece clicks into place? That is the energy we bring to Ryno's adventures: dedication, resilience, and celebrating the massive feeling of accomplishment that comes with every milestone he reaches.

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Welcome to Ausumtism Lair: Bringing Symbols to Life

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We don't just talk about these symbols online—we bring them to life in a massive way right in our own front yard! If you've visited our home haunt and Halloween display, you've stepped directly into Ausumtism Lair. We coined that name because, to us, Awesome + Autism = Ausumtism.

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To catch the neighborhood's attention and start those crucial conversations about neurodiversity, the entrance to our lair is guarded by two incredible giants:

• The 12-Foot Puzzle Piece Skeleton: We completely modified a massive 12-foot skeleton, covering it head-to-toe in vibrant puzzle pieces.

• The 12-Foot Gold Skeleton: Standing right alongside it is a gleaming 12-foot gold skeleton.

Why these two? Because they perfectly bridge the gap between awareness and acceptance.

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The puzzle piece skeleton is the ultimate attention-getter. It is the most widely recognized autism symbol in the world. When neighbors and visitors see it, it creates that initial wave of awareness. It hooks their interest, makes them smile, and opens the door for them to ask questions.

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Once that door is open, we introduce them to the gold skeleton and the symbols of the modern neurodiversity movement:

• The Gold Infinity Symbol: Gold is a beautiful symbol for autism acceptance. On the periodic table of elements, the symbol for gold is Au—the first two letters of the word autism. It represents the inherent, invaluable worth of autistic individuals.

• The Rainbow Infinity Symbol: We also utilize the rainbow infinity sign to celebrate the broader neurodivergent community, illustrating the boundless, beautiful variations of the human mind.

Room for Both, Room for Everyone

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For our family, advocacy isn't about choosing one side of a debate and discarding the other. It’s about using every tool available—from social media videos to 12-foot skeletons—to foster understanding, acceptance, and pride.

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Whether we are sharing his latest adventure, welcoming people into Ausumtism Lair, or chatting with a follower who is eager to learn, our message remains the same. Ryno's life—and the lives of all autistic individuals—is a journey of endless possibility, full of hard work, immense growth, and beautiful triumphs.

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Thank you for being a part of Ryno's piece of the world, and for helping us spread both awareness and acceptance every single day!