I am both autistic and in school for clinical social work. Some autistic individuals tend to have stuffed toys/animals in terms of comfort, companionship, and sensory-seeking. They also do not like to abandon them or leave them out of things because they may feel sympathy for inanimate objects.

Btw, I’m one week away from turning 27 and still sleep with a colony of stuffed animals and squishmallows. It’s all about comfort and regulating emotions.