What would give you this impression?

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What would make you assume someone needed a 'carer' with them to do basic things like going on a train etc...... even if that person could do anything without aid what would give you the impression they needed assistance?

Seeming lost and disoriented all the time?

It wouldn't.
Now as for me, right now I totally need one.
But if I get to the point where I don't, then i won't.

do you have a legal status that requires you to be supervised? Other than that some people can really underestimate what aspies and others are capable of just because they don't understand how similar or different aspies are from NT's. They may assume you are not capable even if it's not true. If you could not communicate your thoughts with others easily I would assume you needed help.

I'm a caretaker for an autistic man and he is perfectly capable of paying for the train and riding it, possibly even getting off at the correct stop and going to a program. However, I do not trust him to take expected actions. He might go into a store and take something without paying or not wait for the crossing signal at the street. If his payment card for the train didn't work I don't know if he would be able to solve the problem himself or ask for help or if he would get angry and assault someone in his frustration. He is also legally required to be escorted and I am responsible for being with him until another staff or guardian is available to go with him. "Chain of custody" is the term for the rules for a person or object that needs to be escorted at all times.

I don't assume...I observe, check my facts or ask the person what they feel the need or all 3.

I think I remember you asking about that before. If they are someone that frequently works with autistic people they might ask everyone that to try to find out how impaired they are.

Other than that situation maybe being quiet might make someone think that being quiet could mean that? I've had people think I was mentally deficient before just because I'm quiet.

Maybe by the way they behaved around other people? I know this isn't quite the same as autism, but to give an example - we used to have a guy at our church (I'll call him "Jerry") who was "special needs", and apparently his mother would take him to Bible Study groups/committee meetings, and didn't stay there with him. What ended up happening is that whomever was running the group would have to "babysit" Jerry, because he would get bored and leave/wander around. (he had the mental age of a young teen) And my understanding is that when our then-pastor spoke to Jerry's mother about this, she got really upset at the idea that he needed someone to look after him.