There are many types of accommodations for autistics, which can make our lives easier. A few weeks ago, I purchased one which I never thought of as an autism accommodation. However, it turned out to be a very important one for me.
Some weeks ago, I purchased an electric bicycle. It wasn't because I really wanted a new bike, I had just bought a new one last February (a beautiful bright-red one, my favorite color). No, it was because I found out that I needed an e-bike more than I had thought. You see, I had barely used my bike these past 7 or so years. Now that I had been doing better, I really wanted to ride it regularly, but didn't trust my old bike enough. So, I put a lot of thought into what type of bike I wanted: regular or e-bike. I figured that since I am young, physically in good health, and probably won't be going on long bike rides, I would not need an e-bike. So I bought a regular one. Boy, was I wrong!
Every time I rode it, I would struggle and get drained of most of my energy. I thought at first, that it was just because it had been so long and all I needed was to get back into it. But no, that did not help. I would ride my bike to work and barely make it there, and barely make it home afterwards. It isn't that far, but it exhausted me every time. Around June/July I started to realize that my exhaustion could be autism-related. You see, I am tired every day, and rest does not help. Since there's never a physical cause to be found, I looked up whether it could be caused by my autism. The answer was yes: there is such a thing as autistic fatigue. It is also quite common.
So, I started thinking: this might explain why I am so tired most of the time. And if that is the case, I can keep riding my regular bike, hoping it will get easier - but it probably won't. So I decided, reluctantly, that I had to do something: I needed an e-bike, so I could ride a bike without it costing all of my energy. I felt sort of bad about it, like I was being lazy because I was young and healthy. That is not true, though. I am not lazy, an e-bike is a necessary accommodation for me because of my autism. It's no different than noise-canceling headphones, or earplugs, or any other accommodation: it helps me function better. It saves a lot of energy, making me also less prone to overstimulation. It also makes me happier, because riding my bike is now fun, instead of a struggle. And it helps me clear my mind, which feels so good.
Not only that, it also helps me be more independent. I can go places by myself now, without having to ask my parents or my sister to take me there. It's not a lot of places just yet, but even this little step is important. It's not just about the big steps, the little ones are just as important and can really add up over time.
So, if you're like me and you struggle with autistic fatigue, and you enjoy bike rides but they exhaust you...perhaps think about investing in an electric bicycle. There really isn't a thing to feel bad about. I know I did at first, but I was wrong, plain and simple. It is an accommodation that can make your life easier, for instance when you struggle with autistic fatigue. And that is a good thing.
If you'd like to know more about autistic fatigue, please check out the third episode of my Autistic Phoenix Podcast. You can find it on this website, under the header ' Podcasts', or on the Autistic Phoenix Spotify- and YouTube channels.
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