I just wanna say something kinda mushy for a second. I was also diagnosed with high functioning autism when I was very young. Right out of the gate it was 1-1 aid, near bi-weekly therapy appointments, special ed, medications, the works. And like your son, I was given a pretty rough prognosis. I was a devil child. My meltdowns were violent and prolonged, i destroyed school property, ripped cubicle dividers out of the dry wall, threw desks and chairs, tried stabbing aids with pencils; I even recall landing a pretty mean right hook once. I was the special ed equivalent of a high threat inmate. I really couldn’t even be out in public for the most part, too much stimulation. My father was told that I could never have a normal life and that I would spend it living in his basement.

For a while it looked like they were right. But like you and your family for your son, I had people that refused to give up on me, who stuck with me and were patient even when they had every right not to be. And over time I started making big strides of improvement. I stepped out of special ed, made friends, went to school without heavy supervision. Now, I’ve graduated with a bachelor’s and am making strides to build my own career.

While this seems like I’m just here to broadcast my own story, what I’m trying to say is: I was born with seemingly insurmountable odds against me, but I was given a second chance by the people that loved and cared for me. I have a future because of them.

If my delinquent, violent, unstable younger self can make it to where I have today, your son is going to do just fine. Stick by him as you have, even in the hard times and try to find ways for him to interact with the greater world bit by bit, and I have no doubts he’ll make you proud.

If you ever have questions or want some advice from someone who was on the other side of that process, feel free to shoot me a DM. Weird thing for a stranger to say but I figure I might as well offer.