Thanks for your comments Milton and yummymummy!
I work with adults who have disabilities, and some of those I support have autism, and other than the fact that I love my boy, I know what sort of world my son will grow up to live in, and while most of us who work in disabilities really do work hard and have made great changes to the lives of the people we support, I want a better life for my son. I don't want him to end up living in a group home ever, and the more he can do himself, the better it is going to be for him. The really big one for him is his social skills, which are very poor, but they are improving.... The only way is up!
He is doing really well, but as you would know yummymummy, when you are working with someone who has autism, it is a balancing act when encouraging them, so that you don't put pressure on them... My son just shuts down when he feels a particular level of pressure on him. That was what blew us away that night; he had never ever done that before, but something just clicked for him... maybe it was the beat, the darkness around him... dunno... but while he hasn't broke into such a big dance again since then, it has improved his confidence levels which is having a positive impact in other areas of his life. Yesterday and today he has been trying really hard to use a toilet rather than a nappy, and last night he did his first wee in the toilet!!!! Hasn't done another once since, but he keeps trying every 30 minutes or so! lol but he feels great about himself, and that is what is important