Hey everyone! Last week I wrote about autistic arms (aka what we like to do with our arms and why,) so this week, I wanted to continue the topic of autistic mannerisms and talk about autistic legs!
Just like with arms, autistic people have certain things that they tend to do with their legs. These behaviors vary between individuals, but it’s important to recognize that they are all for the autistic person’s comfort and should never be discouraged or punished.
The first category I’d like to discuss is how autistic people walk. You may have noticed in yourself or others that we often don’t follow the neurotypical pattern of walking. Autistic people have a wide variety of things we like to do with our feet when we walk, such as balancing on our toes or heels or bouncing. Even this bouncing has plenty of variations. We may simply seem a little lighter as we make our way down the street, or we may engage in sort of a lopsided gallop (which can be super fun for us!) We may also skip or hop. As long as it helps us comfortably move forward and reach our destination, anything goes!
We may also have certain postures while sitting. Some of us really like to cross our legs or ankles, sit criss-cross applesauce, or sit on our feet. For me, I often find myself with my knees tucked up or in a sort of “perching” position, where I’m almost in a low squat in my seat.
It’s necessary that autistic people have the ability to do what they want with their body position. If we’re forced to sit or walk in a certain way that doesn’t align with what we feel comfortable with, it can feel very constraining and even painful. These postures and movements help us feel cozy and secure, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
In all things autism-related, please continue to work on recognizing our perspective and accepting the little things that make us unique. What we do with our legs is just one of the many behaviors that make us feel good. If you’re a loved one or professional working with an autistic person, please be open and encouraging in your communication, and if you’re an autistic person, keep being you!