Tattoo artist Andrew Skinner was putting the pieces together for autism awareness on Monday.
The owner of Skinner Ink held a fundraiser in his Dunlop Street West studio by applying 'puzzle piece' tattoos to approximately 100 clients, who each donated a minimum $20 that went to Autism Ontario.
"The puzzle piece is the national symbol for autism. We're using the exact puzzle piece of Autism Ontario," he said, while applying one of the tattoos to Tanya Davies.
Her son, Mackenzie, has been diagnosed autistic.
"The puzzle piece is a symbol of hope and to get more people involved and to raise awareness about autism," she said.
Skinner's five-year-old son, Hethyn, has also been diagnosed with autism.
"People generally don't know anything about autism until they have a family member who is diagnosed with it," he said, adding there should be more awareness about autism and how it affects different people in different ways.
When someone is expressing their autistic tendencies, people who don't know much about it are confused.
"People just stare. It would be nice if you could take your kids somewhere and not have people stare," he said. "My son can play around with other kids like normal, but then there can be certain things that trigger him. Without a diagnosis, kids can get into a lot of trouble."
The event which was to run from noon until 9 p.m., while supplies lasted will help families afford treatment and people were lined up almost out the door of the Skinner Ink studio, Monday afternoon.
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Barrie tattoo studio doing its part to fight autism