The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society designed, copyrighted, and registered the Autoimmune Encephalitis awareness ribbon in 2015  to create public awareness of this group of brain diseases. The ribbon is registered as the internationally recognized awareness ribbon for this group of diseases.

The meaning of the color silver, which outlines the red, is for brain disease. The significance of the silver lining around the red represents hope. The meaning of red is inflammation (of the brain or vasculitis an inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain) and courage. It takes enormous courage to fight the disease. The zebra pattern represents rare diseases. Together the combination of color and pattern describes AE and what is required to reach restored health and recovery.

IAES extends thanks to past member Kimberly Thomas Tague who created a ribbon in 2015 at Tabitha Andrews Orth’s, IAES co-founder and IAES President, request that could be used for a media campaign that was underway that focused on AE treatment denials.  This design was inspired by Kimberly’s original work.  In 2016 The organization HESA, a 501 3(c) not for profit organization for an autoimmune brain disease called Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy (HE) was  given permission to use Kimberly’s design for an HE awareness ribbon. Although the two ribbons are very similar. They are distinct in what they represent.