"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist"
About the Exploring Our World Differently Butterfly Logo
The autism and neurodivergent community is growing. While, on the whole, it is an inclusive community, the hard truth is that it can be equally divisive. Each individual and family experience can vary drastically, and those experiences deeply shape perspectives. While many accept the puzzle piece, others accept the infinity symbol, and still others, like this family, are leaning toward the butterfly. No one is right, no one is wrong. There is no exclusive inclusive symbol (let's wrap our brains around that simple two-word phrase) that could encapsulate such an incredibly diverse community.
There was a time when I first accepted, wore, and shared the puzzle piece all those years ago, it was because it was the only symbol I knew at the time, when autism awareness felt barely on the radar. Over the years, the infinity symbol has been accepted as a way to expand into the neurodiverse community as science and psychology bring forward new information and understanding.
All this said, when I reflected on how far our family and Exploring Our World Differently have come, and all that I envision for our future, I felt I could not move forward with EOWD without something as simple as having the right symbol to represent not only our family and brand, but something that could potentially feel right to a greater community.
By no means, and I must be clear on this, is my intent to create the one symbol universally accepted by this amazing neurodivergent world we live, work, play, and explore. We are different. We will always be different. That is the beauty of this nothing-short-of-amazing community. Still, it was important to me that I create something I could feel confident sharing within our community.
Our EOWD butterflies' conceptual inspiration came from years of growth: evolving from something small through sometimes incredible challenges and experiences into something, while not perfect, beautiful. The wings are made from two crossed infinity symbols of the bright rainbow spectrum; the heart-shaped, globe-like body reminds us that we are all connected in this greater world, even when we feel isolated and alone; and the butterfly as a whole is meant to embody growth and change.
All this said, I will wrap up with what this rainbow butterfly symbol means to me personally, and what I hope others may find in their very personal journey: Independence, inclusion, and connection within this greater world with dignity, honor, and respect, as we continue to expand upon what awareness and acceptance means within the vast autistic and neurodivergent community.
Thank you for taking the time to explore the concept behind the Exploring Our World Differently logo and brand
Tracy Peterson, Founder & Autism Mama, Exploring Our World Differently | EOWD Autism Living