Autism awareness comes in many forms, with both parents and kids fighting the stigmas and educating others about the spectrum disorder through telling stories, sharing experiences, and offering information. For some parents, though, autism awareness is something they choose to keep close to their heart through a tattoo on their body, whether it's visible to all, super tiny, or a large, colorful piece.
Check out these parents' inked homages to their children with autism — it'll be hard not to smile at their creative tattoo ideas!
This autism awareness tattoo features a gorgeous dreamcatcher along with colorful puzzle pieces.
This dad's autism tattoo features a yellow puzzle piece atop a sword.
Sweet and simple, this tattoo is a heart puzzle with the colors in an autism awareness ribbon.
This autism awareness tattoo features a banner that reads, "Different, not less."
This intricate autism tattoo features two of the most famous brothers — Mario and Luigi.
Star Wars and autism awareness come together to make this tattoo super awesome.
The string of this autism puzzle piece heart balloon reads, "Different, not less."
This gorgeous tattoo features colorful puzzle pieces inside the pupil of a lifelike eyeball.
In this autism tattoo, it looks like the puzzle piece can be placed right into this person's arm.
This adorable tattoo features a Mickey made out of colorful puzzle pieces and his gloved hands making a heart.
In this lifelike tattoo, a mama elephant is walking with her baby, who is covered in colorful puzzle pieces.
In this silhouette tattoo, a little boy is holding a heart balloon.
This mom's stunning tree tattoo has a fun little surprise — the Snapchat hot dog on a swing, as requested by one of her sons.
In this adorable tattoo, Pooh looks like he's flying thanks to the puzzle piece balloon he's holding.
We love this tiny wrist tattoo, which is an outline of a puzzle piece with a blue heart in the middle.
This Up-themed autism awareness tattoo is so stunning.
These three tiny puzzle pieces make for an adorable forearm tattoo.
This colorful butterfly tattoo goes all the way up mom's forearm.
This autism awareness tattoo features puzzle pieces covering Squirt from Finding Nemo's shell.
A mom, her child, and a puzzle piece outline can be seen inside this heart tattoo.
This dad's autism tattoo features his son's name and birth date alongside a blue puzzle piece.
This magical tattoo featuring Sorcerer Mickey reads, "A different kind of normal."
These family members' autism awareness tattoos both feature colorful puzzle pieces.
This colorful tattoo features Tigger and reads, "Until everyone understands."
We love the kid writing in this tattoo.
In the Walt Disney font, this tattoo reads, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
In this tattoo, Stitch from Lilo and Stitch is holding a puzzle piece heart balloon.
Likely inspired by their child's love of dinosaurs, this tattoo also features a missing puzzle piece.
This tattoo featuring Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy reads, "I am his voice, he is my heart."
This parent's tattoo reads, "I am her voice, she is my heart."
This cartoon elephant tattoo features a small balloon with a blue puzzle piece inside.
The blended colors in this puzzle piece tattoo are so pretty!
This autism tattoo features a puzzle piece with bursts of color all around.
This rainbow tree features subtle puzzle piece leaves.
This tattoo has so many elements, from the hands that form a heart, the kid writing, and the colorful puzzle pieces.
This heart tattoo features colorful puzzle pieces.
In this tattoo featuring a child's name, a blue puzzle piece is missing its red heart.
This paint splattered tattoo reads, "Unique, not different."
This heart puzzle outline has colorful paint splatter outside of it.
This autism tattoo features a puzzle piece in the center of Captain America's shield.