Needing aids (like a cane or walker) is common for autists, but why?
Originally Posted in ActuallyAutistic on 4.30.25
When people think of challenges autistic people face, they don’t usually think of mobility issues. Though they aren’t part of the diagnostic criteria, a lot of us deal with problems walking and need to use mobility aids like canes, walkers, or even wheelchairs. There’s many reasons for this. Personally, I’ve got a grab bag offibromyalgia, uncured symptoms from decades of severeB12 deficiency(particularly sudden leg weakness), and other issues my doctor thinks arePOTS. But it’s different for everyone.
Here are some of the reasons why many autistic people need mobility aids:
- Pain:Many autists experience hypersensitivity to pain as well as pain when neurologically overwhelmed, leading to difficulty with mobility and falls.
- Exhaustion:It is exhausting to be autistic in a world not designed for our brains, so a lot of us deal with autistic fatigue and mobility aids can help better manage limited energy.
- Exteroception problems: Sensing the outside world can be challenging for us, aids can be helpful in making sure we get where we’re going safely.
- Proprioception problems:Knowing where our bodies are spatially can also be challenging, leading to troubles with balance, coordination, and overall movement control.
- Dyspraxia:Many autists are dyspraxic as well, which can lead to many complications, including gross (whole body) motor difficulties.
- Comorbid conditions:I listed a few of the commonly co-occurring conditions in my situation above, and there’s many more in the community quotes below…
I asked fellow autists why they use mobility aids, here’s 10 of their answers:
“A ton of us have comorbidities that can necessitate the use of mobility aids: POTS/dysautonomia, CFS/myeloencephalitis, EDS/hypermobility conditions, fibromyalgia, dyspraxia, etc. I have balance issues and fatigue related to dysautonomia, so sometimes I use a cane or rollator.”
“To reduce pain and increase the amount of time I can be on my feet.”
“I use a cane. It’s partly because of chronic vestibular migraines and partly because of my autism. […] I can walk through crowds and stores without needing to hold onto someone else and I’m a lot more independent. I’m in the process of getting an autism and balance mobility service dog. The dog will wear a harness that I’ll hold onto to help orient me while I walk.”
“I have fatigue so I use a cane to help with balance and conserve my energy”
“I primarily use mobility aids for my eds and pots, but I’ve noticed a lot of benefits for autism, too. Using my cane, forearm crutches or rollator helps with my balance/proprioception, and being pushed in my transport chair really helps when I’m overstimulated. coordinating the movements necessary for walking is a lot when i’m overwhelmed. I notice a lot of young autistic kids use a medical stroller or wagon for the same reason.”
“It’s not a mobility aid per se but I use a white sight cane!”
“I have hyper-mobility (which is commonly comorbid with autism). My ankles are particularly bad. I wear ankle braces. I don’t always use mobility aids, but sometimes need crutches, the physical support of another person or occasionally a wheelchair. Mostly I just stay in, when my mobility is worse, so people will tend not to see me then and so, often wouldn’t realise how much hyper-mobility can reduce mobility. (Linguistically ironic.)”
“I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and POTS and Non epileptic seizures, i use a cane or a wheelchair (or nothing sometimes) when I go out. The cane doesn’t help my pain a lot but it helps with balance and having to stand for long periods of time (which is a trigger for POTS).”
“I use a custom wheelchair by TiLite because of my hypermobile ehlers danlos, spinal stenosis, and inappropriate sinus tachycardia.”
“I use a forearm crutch, I used to use a cane but hurted wrist too much. I use it because I often have pain in my hips. Chronic migraines which makes me feel extremely exhausted and dizzy. It also helps a ton with sensory overload and fatigue with standing because it allows me to put some of my weight on it so my feets don’t hurt as much.”
