Brian - Working with Children and Youth with Complex Needs

Summary

The script revolves around Brian, a 16-year-old living in a youth shelter due to family issues and school challenges. His youth worker, Ben, and counselor, Allison, are concerned about his irregular school attendance and the impact of his learning disability and bullying experiences. Brian left home due to constant arguing with his parents, particularly his father's violent behavior. The narrative unfolds through various sessions, including discussions with Brian's mother about his potential return home and collaborative meetings to address his educational and personal needs. The script highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of a youth's struggles, including family dynamics and learning challenges, to support their path to stability and success.

Takeaways

• 👤 Brian is a 16-year-old living in a youth shelter for a month due to family issues and school challenges.
• 🏫 Brian's attendance at school is irregular, which is a concern for Ben, his youth worker, as it could jeopardize his stay at the shelter.
• 📚 Brian struggles with reading due to a learning disability, and he also faces bullying and has had disciplinary issues at school.
• 🗡️ Brian once brought a knife to school, which led to a suspension, and he mentions it was for safety reasons, linked to past experiences with his father's violence.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Brian left home due to constant arguing with his parents, and things improve when his father is away for work.
• 🤝 Brian's youth worker, Ben, and counselor, Allison, are working together to address Brian's issues and help him succeed at school and at the shelter.
• 👩‍👧 Brian's mother is involved in discussions about the possibility of him returning home, with the understanding that changes need to be made for a positive environment.
• 🏠 Brian has been away from home for about two months and has noticed improvements in his well-being without the constant family conflict.
• 👥 A meeting is planned with Brian, Allison, Ben, and potentially Brian's mother to discuss strategies for Brian's success and to address his educational and family challenges.
• 📝 Brian's verbal skills are strong, but he has difficulty translating his thoughts into writing, which is a key area where support is needed.

Q & A

What is the primary concern of Brian's youth worker, Ben?

Ben is concerned that Brian isn't attending classes regularly. If Brian doesn't go to school or find a job, he can't stay at the shelter.

What issues is Brian facing at school?

Brian's problems at school include a learning disability that makes it difficult for him to read, being bullied, and once being caught in possession of a knife on school property.

Why did Brian leave home?

Brian left home due to the constant arguing with his father and mother, which was exacerbated when his father was home due to his work.

How does Brian's relationship with his mother affect his life?

Brian's relationship with his mother is strained as they argue a lot, which leads to him feeling the need to protect himself, especially when his father is around.

What is the role of Allison, the counselor?

Allison works as part of a community-based organization that provides outreach, shelter, employment, and counseling services. She is helping Brian navigate his issues and is involved in discussions about his future.

What is the significance of the knife incident at school?

The knife incident is significant as it led to Brian being suspended for a day. It also reveals his feelings of needing protection and safety, possibly linked to his experiences at home.

What does Brian mean when he talks about 'snowballing'?

By 'snowballing,' Brian is referring to the accumulation of problems he is facing, such as missing classes and the potential consequences of his actions, like becoming homeless.

What is the main barrier to Brian continuing his education?

The main barrier to Brian continuing his education is his attendance. His school has expressed concern over how much school he is missing.

How does Brian feel about his father's behavior?

Brian feels that his father's anger and potential for violence create a tense and unsafe environment at home, which affects his desire to return.

What changes does Brian suggest are needed for him to consider returning home?

Brian suggests that the constant arguing between him and his mother, and the overall tension in the home, especially when his father is around, need to change for him to consider returning.

What is the role of the meeting involving Brian, Allison, and Ben?

The meeting is intended to discuss how Brian can succeed at the shelter and at school, and to work on the problems at home. It also aims to involve Brian's mother in the conversation.

What is the potential solution being discussed for Brian's educational struggles?

A potential solution being discussed is organizing a school meeting with teachers and a guidance counselor to get everyone on the same page and understand Brian's needs better.

How does Brian feel about the possibility of involving his mother in the school meeting?

Brian seems open to the idea of involving his mother in the school meeting, indicating that he thinks it could be helpful.

What does Brian suggest as the main issue that needs to change in his family dynamics?

Brian identifies the constant arguing as the main issue that needs to change in his family dynamics for him to consider returning home.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Youth Shelter Challenges

The script introduces Brian, a 16-year-old living in a youth shelter due to family issues and school difficulties. Brian's youth worker, Ben, expresses concern over Brian's irregular school attendance, which jeopardizes his stay at the shelter. Brian's struggles include a learning disability affecting his reading skills, experiences of bullying, and a past incident involving a knife on school grounds. The narrative also touches on Brian's strained relationship with his parents, particularly the father's frequent absences due to work, which seem to ease the family dynamic. The script outlines a series of four sessions involving Brian, his youth worker, counselor, and mother, aimed at resolving his educational and domestic issues.

05:01

📚 School Attendance and Personal Barriers

This paragraph delves into Brian's school-related issues, focusing on his inconsistent attendance and the potential consequences, including homelessness and loss of educational opportunities. Brian admits to skipping classes, particularly English, due to peer pressure and the allure of hanging out with friends. His youth worker, Ben, emphasizes the importance of school and the risks of not attending. The conversation also reveals Brian's feelings of being misunderstood by the shelter staff, who may perceive him as not trying hard enough. Additionally, Brian discusses a recent suspension for bringing a knife to school, explaining it as a means of feeling safe rather than intending harm.

10:02

👪 Family Dynamics and Conflicts

The script shifts focus to Brian's family life, highlighting the tension and conflict, particularly when his father is at home. Brian describes a pattern of arguing with his mother, which escalates when his father is present. He also discusses his father's anger issues and past instances of violence, which have shaped his need to protect himself. The conversation explores the emotional distance between Brian and his parents, his mother's perspective on the family's dynamics, and the impact of the father's upbringing on his current behavior. It suggests a complex family environment that contributes to Brian's decision to leave home and seek shelter.

15:03

🗣️ Communication and Change in the Family

In this segment, the dialogue centers on the need for change within the family to create a safer and more harmonious environment. Brian's mother acknowledges the ongoing strife and the need for change, particularly from Brian's father, who has a history of anger issues. Brian shares his perspective on living independently and the positive effects it has had on him, such as reduced arguing and a more peaceful existence. The conversation hints at potential solutions, including family therapy or alternative living arrangements, to address the family's challenges.

20:05

🎓 Academic Support and School Collaboration

The final paragraph addresses Brian's academic challenges, particularly his difficulties with writing and translating his thoughts onto paper. The script suggests organizing a school meeting with teachers and a guidance counselor to align everyone's understanding of Brian's needs and to develop a support system. It also proposes involving Brian's mother in the process and considering a volunteer tutoring program. The conversation emphasizes the importance of Brian's voice in these discussions and his willingness to engage with his teachers to communicate his struggles and intentions to improve.

Keywords

💡Youth Shelter

A youth shelter is a temporary residence for young people who are homeless or in need of a safe place to stay. In the video's theme, Brian, the 16-year-old protagonist, has been living in a youth shelter for a month. The shelter plays a crucial role as it provides him with a stable environment while he navigates his personal challenges, such as school attendance and behavioral issues.

💡Attendance

Attendance refers to the act of being present or participating in an event or activity, such as school. In the context of the video, Brian's regular attendance at school is a concern for his youth worker, Ben, as it is a condition for Brian to remain at the shelter. The script mentions that Brian might lose his courses and face homelessness if he does not attend school regularly.

💡Learning Disability

A learning disability is a neurological condition that affects a person's ability to process or understand information, which can impact reading, writing, and other academic skills. Brian has a learning disability that makes reading difficult for him. This is a significant factor in his struggles with school and is a key element in understanding his educational challenges.

💡Bullying

Bullying is the act of using force, coercion, or threat to abuse, harass, or intimidate someone. In the script, Brian mentions being bullied at school, which contributes to his negative experiences and reluctance to attend classes. Bullying is a serious issue that can significantly affect a student's well-being and engagement with education.

💡Possession of a Knife

Possession of a knife in school is a serious violation of school rules and can lead to disciplinary actions. Brian was caught with a knife on school property, which is a critical incident that reflects his feelings of insecurity and the need for self-protection, possibly stemming from his troubled home environment.

💡Home Environment

Home environment refers to the conditions and atmosphere within a person's home. Brian left home due to constant arguing with his parents, indicating a negative home environment. The script suggests that things are better when his father is away, implying that the home environment is a significant factor in Brian's decision to leave and his emotional state.

💡Counseling

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. In the video, Brian receives counseling from Allison, who works for a community-based organization. Counseling is portrayed as a supportive service that helps Brian address his issues and consider his options for the future.

💡Outreach

Outreach refers to the act of extending services, support, or information to people who might need it but are not actively seeking it. The community-based organization where Allison works provides outreach services, which likely include engaging with individuals like Brian to offer assistance and connect them with resources such as shelter, employment, and counseling.

💡Family Dynamics

Family dynamics involve the relationships, roles, and interactions between family members. The script explores the complex family dynamics in Brian's family, particularly the tension and conflict between Brian, his mother, and his father. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing the issues that led to Brian leaving home and for considering potential solutions for his return.

💡Self-Protection

Self-protection is the act of defending oneself against harm or danger. Brian mentions needing to protect himself, especially when his father is around, indicating a sense of threat and the need for self-preservation. This concept is related to the broader theme of safety and the measures Brian takes to feel secure.

💡Educational Support

Educational support refers to the assistance provided to students to help them succeed academically. Brian struggles with his English class due to his learning disability and the pressure of school expectations. The script suggests the need for tailored educational support to help Brian translate his verbal skills into written work and to address his specific learning challenges.

Highlights

Brian, a 16-year-old, has been living in a youth shelter for a month due to issues at school and home.

Youth worker Ben is concerned about Brian's irregular school attendance which could jeopardize his stay at the shelter.

Brian struggles with reading due to a learning disability and has faced bullying at school.

He was once caught with a knife on school property, indicating potential safety concerns.

Brian left home due to constant arguing with his parents, which was exacerbated by his father's frequent absences due to work.

The case involves four sessions focusing on Brian's life at the shelter, his school attendance, and family dynamics.

Counselor Allison is part of a community-based organization offering outreach, shelter, employment, and counseling services.

Brian's mother is involved in discussions about the conditions needed for Brian to potentially return home.

The final session aims to develop a plan for Brian's success at the shelter and school, involving Brian, Allison, and Ben.

Brian admits to enjoying the shelter and expresses a desire to continue attending school.

Attendance is a significant barrier for Brian, particularly in English class, due to feeling overwhelmed.

Brian reveals that peer pressure and the desire to hang out with friends leads him to skip classes.

Brian's experience of being called names, like 'idiot', triggers memories of his father's verbal abuse.

There is a history of domestic violence in Brian's family, with his father being physically aggressive.

Brian's mother acknowledges the family's issues and the need for change, particularly from Brian's father.

Brian has shown improvement while away from home, suggesting a possible need for a change in his living situation.

A school meeting is proposed to address Brian's learning difficulties and to ensure his teachers understand his efforts.

Brian is encouraged to speak with his teachers about his struggles and upcoming meeting to advocate for himself.

Transcripts

[Music]

yeah did you get a second yeah okay we U

talk over here all

right

Brian is 16 and has been living in a

youth shelter for a month his youth

worker Ben is concerned that Brian isn't

attending classes regularly if he

doesn't go to school or find a job he

can't stay at the shelter Brian's

problems at school are not just related

to a learning disability that makes it

difficult for him to read he's also

sometimes bullied and was once caught in

possession of a knife on school property

Brian left home because of the constant

arguing with his father and mother

things are better when his father is

away which is often because of his work

there are four sessions in this case

vignette first you'll see Brian and his

youth worker at the shelter then an

interview between Brian and his

counselor Allison at her office where

she works as part of a community-based

organization that provides Outreach

shelter employment and counseling

services in the third session Brian's

mother joins Brian and Allison to

discuss what would need to change if

Brian is to return home the final

session brings together Brian Allison

and Ben to discuss how Brian can succeed

at the shelter and at school while Brian

and his family work on the problems at

home sit down here

guess how's everything going uh pretty

good yeah she' been here like a month

now what do you think so far yeah it's

pretty good school's going okay yeah all

right um cuz school you know tends to be

a big focus of things here it's

not uh the only thing but it's part of

it um do you have any idea why I would

be kind of pulling you out of your room

to sit down and like play the heavy um

not really okay um you're in grade 10

right this is your first year in high

school you're you're getting to a point

with ATT tenant where you you might

start losing your courses they may kick

you out of

courses um and ultimately like you know

your s school is in your hands right

like if it's what you want to do we got

you back will'll support you in that

maybe I have to be really specific about

um what is probably going to happen

right if probably going to happen if you

don't go to school and you don't follow

things along right yeah um um very

quickly you know within a month or a

couple of weeks you could be homeless

and not here anymore we need you to

decide what you want to do and then

we'll figure out if we can make that

happen Okay well I think I'd like to

keep going to school okay stay here yeah

so one of the biggest barriers to that

from your school's point of you right as

attendance okay um so I guess we got to

look at what's making it hard for you to

go to class is there is there something

in particular about English that is

difficult for

you

uh for

English it seems to be that you you seem

to miss a lot of English but probably

just the class itself yeah cool

so in terms of like what else we could

we could do and how we can help you out

like have you been seeing Allison

lately but what just go sales and for

counseling I'm just going to let you

know what Ben told me but then I really

kind of want to get from what your

experience of it was like so what from

Ben's point of view he' been missing

some school and the house is getting

kind of worried about how much school

you're missing you look kind of

surprised by that Brian tell me from

your point of view like what's what's

not whole day is just odd periods what's

happening with those odd periods like

what what's going on that you're not

going to those classes generally a lot

of people have free periods right in the

in like 11 and 12 usually but I don't

right not a lot of my friends in grade

tend do but usually we just end up hang

out with them okay

and I don't know

usually feels weird to say peer pressure

like that but is that yeah I guess you

could okay peer pressure and feeling

like it's more enticing to go hang out

yeah with your friends when you compare

how it feels to hang out with your

friends compared to how it feels to be

overwhelmed by what's expected of you in

English class Y how do those stack

up well s it's obvious question but I'm

really interested in what you're what

can I think about it but I probably say

hang out with friends yeah okay okay um

what what do you what's your sense right

now now about um what the house

understands the reasons are for you

missing school like what what's what

does the house think right

now probably just that I'm not trying

okay and and what do you think about

that is that is that really kind of

what's happening is it that you're not

trying no I don't well I think if you

asked a lot of people that they wouldn't

think that I mean a lot of ways

different people try to do that I mean

this stuff's kind of snowballing for you

you know so you're missing art class and

you're missing English class um and

you're telling me some reasons why and

it's not just not just cuz whatever

you're just being lazy you know um and

there might be we don't know yet cuz

we'll talk to Ben about this there might

be an impression at the house that um

it's cuz you're not trying hard enough

okay and then you also said to me that

there's lots of ways that you do try

hard yeah um and you know I think that's

also

interesting stuff and and do you think

that might also be something that would

be good to have a discussion with Ben

about the ways that you do try hard with

Ben well I guess so if that would really

help at the house the other thing that

that Ben did let me know was um you got

suspended for a day last week because

you brought a knife to school can you

tell me about that I guess when you

state it like that it does sound really

harsh but

I mean yeah I don't know how to really

explain it to a lot of people cuz most

people just come up to me and well they

all see it like where you going to go

stab somebody okay and just I've been

asked to like someone picking on you you

going to get back at them that kind of

thing can you tell me a little bit more

Brian by what you meant by bringing the

knife and and like just give me the

details cuz I don't really have a sense

of like what is this knife and how come

you had it and what was what was that

about it's just a little pocket knife

but I mean okay what's that knife mean

to you what's what's how is it something

that you value no a lot of people have

well I include myself in that just you

feel better like safety okay I guess

yeah I'm wondering if it is it linked at

all to those times that you told me

about when we first met about what you

what was going on with your dad and when

you saw your dad's violence is that were

those times where did you keep yourself

safe somehow in those times I guess

there were some situations like that I

mean not recently I mean he's never

around anymore yeah used to a lot more

when I was younger but at school I too

run into people like my dad a

lot I don't know Kids in the Hall and

stuff I

mean well if you're looking for an

actual circumstance like a concrete

example like that I mean has there been

any

lately I don't know someone called me an

idiot it would just bring back days of

my dad right if someone called you an

idiot or did someone call you an idiot

yeah did okay um that's like the first

one I can think of right off the bat

where it kind of triggers memories like

that yeah makes sense to me right like

if that's a you know something that

reminds you of all that stuff that you

went through with your dad often you

know I've heard other youth say to me

they really hate when they get called

stupid especially if it reminds them of

stuff or especially in school where

they're struggling a little bit and

stupid is like a real button for them

that gets pushed well that's kind of

ties into more not with my dad but with

my mom mom cuz when we argued and stuff

we would kind of turn into that oh did

it is that right Brian so she would use

that term idiot or stupid just like

being put down at stuff I mean okay all

right it's okay all right you know what

I'm actually really I'm glad that you

brought your mom up because um it's

something else that I kind of want to

talk to you a little bit about today are

you okay if we yeah talk a little bit

about your mom so you've been away now

from home for is it 10 about 9 10 weeks

mon about two months yeah so it's was

like you went you had you stayed with

some friends you went to the shelter and

then you've been at the house for like

about a month about the house for yeah a

month and have have you seen your mom

much in that time no no okay you had a

couple of phone calls I talk to her on

the phone every so often now I mean

occasionally do you like how often

what's occasionally mean to you every

week or so you talked her about once a

week when we don't talk as much we don't

really argue as much ever we're really

close but

just we are close but we always argue a

lot and I mean what really bugs both of

us like we get angry at each other but

afterwards we just both don't even know

why we were arguing it really builds up

and after while we don't even talk for

like weeks it's been months before but

just we're both the way I look at it we

both kind of have a wall up and we're

waiting for the other one to attack

right it's worse when your dad's home do

I do I understand that we're all on edge

we argue with each other even after he

leaves after like a few days a week even

but for months after we'll still be

angry at each other and he's long gone

okay so C can you tell me kind of paint

me a visual here like what do you mean

by on edge I mean I know what I mean by

it but what's what's what's that like in

your family when you're all on edge

what's going

on I don't know my dad's changed a lot I

mean every time I see him

but I don't know why every time he's

home everyone's trying to please him

yeah it's kind of bugs me why we even

bothered do that don't know what he's

done for it mhm is it important that

he's kept happy is that yeah am I

getting that feeling yeah it is cuz what

happens when he's not what happens if

somebody displeases him in general he

seems to be an angry person around us at

least I mean when he's home I

mean I've kind of felt like you have to

protect yourself I mean not you usually

from like physical abuse right I mean

now he

just picks on my mom sometimes picks on

me sometimes but it's not really what

bugs me more you said something there

that really caught my attention which

was you know you really learned to

protect yourself especially when your

dad's around can you we tell me more

about that I guess growing up he does

get angry and he can be

violent usually it was just my parents

arguing not usually usually

violent and he shoves her sometimes okay

and you you were around to see that

happen yeah okay is that still happening

even when he comes back now or was that

something that's has stopped happening

or sometimes not really too much okay

when's the last time that happened will

you tell me about that kind of what

happened last year

he kind of turned on me halfway through

it and we were arguing

and he I mean it wasn't anything big he

shoved me I shoved him back okay and

that was kind of just the end of it yeah

what do you think Brian of

um if this is really important to you

and you do want to eventually think

about going back home um do you think we

should meet with your mom would your mom

be willing to meet with me do you think

yeah I guess so um it's really important

for me to know ahead of time from you

Brian about

um what things I can share with your mom

so if any is out of anything that we've

talked about since when I first met you

and today is there anything specific

that you wouldn't want me to let your

mom

know and I decided that it would be um

helpful to ask you invite you into a

meeting to come and talk to us Brian you

you've talked to me about you know one

of the hardest things for you at home is

when your dad's on the scene and that's

a time um when there seems like there's

a lot of tension and you've used the

terms like people are kind of um you

know on edge bugs me when we fight I

don't like it it's worse when he's

around and that's when the fighting is

bigger between you and your mom at that

time right and Janet you kind of noted

to me um you agreed you agreed with that

that that things seem to be a lot more

stressful when um

Alfred's home um but also you also have

some concerns that this is sort of an

ongoing thing between the two of you as

well did you relate to anything that

Brian was saying about kind of sometimes

the fear that he feels around Alfred's

anger um

and the worry that and concern that he

has for your safety was there any part

of that that you kind of went yeah you

know I kind of understand that of course

and

you have to understand that I've been

with Al for many years and I know better

than anybody how much he cares about his

family and how much he wants to do

what's right Al's always had a hard time

controlling his

temper he was brought up in a at a time

when people didn't think about those

things we didn't have anything to help

us with with things and you know he was

beaten with a belt for God's sake at

least he just uses his hand with you I

mean it's not it's just not the same as

it was for us you don't

understand I'm hearing that you know

that you're saying in many ways um that

you you know you're handling this

situation in the best way that you know

how today we're not looking at just

looking at one option it may be that you

know where Brian is 16 it may be that

you

to end up in a in a relationship with

each other that's better if he doesn't

live at home it may be that we end up

that it's okay that he go back home um

but if it can't become safe and really

it's not your responsibility to make it

safe it's Al's responsibility and if

that can't happen then you know maybe

another solution we look at some other

solution of what what the new

relationship between the two of you

where he's not living at home look like

and I've live by myself the last two

months and I've had a lot more time to

myself and I'm not living around you I'm

not living around

Dad I'm not living around the whole

environment at home I've got just myself

and I'm telling myself what to do and

it's worked out for me for the most part

so far I don't have anyone calling me

stupid being put down stupid and I've

never called you stupid your father does

not have the

vocabulary to be able to say what he

really needs you don't apply yourself

you don't try you never have tried it

Janet can I just is it okay if I just

interrupt just for a second I just um I

just want to just take a minute if you

don't mind Janet too um I just want to

go back to something that Brian said

that really sort of stood out for me as

important and it was that um when he

said that how you know there's way less

arguing um when his when his dad is not

there and that he also mentioned to and

it really stood out for me that no one's

calling him stupid I'd really like to

know a little bit more about what you

think that would feel like to him to to

have his dad call him

stupid Al needs to change I probably

even need to change but it's not just us

he needs to try he needs to

be a part of yeah the world and our

family okay is that the first time

you've heard your mom saying that that

your dad needs to change yeah so are you

able to can you tell your mom right now

kind of what are the things that you

also would like to see different if it

were to ever work for you at home again

I mean the only thing I really think the

only thing I see that we need to change

would be arguing a lot I mean that's

something that we just both both have to

agree on I mean I don't think directly

to your mom are you okay with

that I find

that we argue a lot and it's not over

anything it's stupid little things like

just us picking at each other and well

it seems like he's made some progress

here seems like this is something

different from what I've

been from what I expected really it's

easy to be different when you don't have

to deal

with the things that you would normally

deal with at home can you tell me a

little more about

that he's not the same kid as he was a

couple months ago when he left the house

at least he doesn't seem to be but he's

been uh you know he's been meeting with

you and he's had the benefit of of

talking about things and you know that's

not something that Al and I have had and

it would be nice to be able to do that

Al won't come uh but it would be maybe

helpful to us if if uh we could keep

some involvement with

you Brian and I from that meeting kind

of decided some important things that we

thought would be really good to kind of

bring you in on um as the key worker and

also just having you in the room is just

a really good opportunity too to kind of

for me to get a sense of um from your

point of view Ben and from The house's

point of view how are things going now

with with Brian where should we start in

terms of letting and in in on some stuff

that um is probably important for him to

know as your keor I'd really like to

start trying more like keep trying but

try a lot harder you and I talked a lot

about kind of you know around being

feeling really overwhelmed by what's

being expected of you these days in your

English course because it's going to

involve a lot of writing and you're kind

of checking out and the other thing

that's happening at the same time is you

got a lot of friends that are having

spare periods and they're kind of

enticing you you to to hang with them

cuz like you said it's kind of right now

it's more fun to be with them than

feeling like you're overwhelmed in your

English class do I have that right High

School's a challenging environment and I

know that the teachers aren't always the

the most understanding or flexible

so if there are more details I'd really

be interested to to hear one of the

things that Brian has told me is

um and and it's backed up kind of by the

the educational testing that he's had

over the years to see he really has has

TR he has all these great thoughts and

he's really verbally like great with

words and we have some great

conversations yeah you you've noticed

that too yeah so so he's got all that

going on but then when it comes to

translating what's in his head and

putting on paper there's some stuff

happening there in the processing of

that and it it's it's really hard for

you a Brian yeah so we really want to

start um getting people who are

supporting Brian to really get a sense

of what kinds of sports he specifically

needs around translating what's in his

head to to what's to what's on paper if

we were able to have an organize a

school meeting um the teachers and

guidance counselor exactly yeah and

getting everybody on the same page it's

such a different um take on what's

really happening with him than probably

what's the school's take on it is so

your your voice at that table um would

be really helpful Ben to have you as

somebody who say I see him working

really hard who else do you think um if

we have been there um and you and I are

be there um who is there someone else

that comes to mind or other people that

come to mind that you think would be um

kind of on your team at that

meeting um probably just my

teachers yeah is there a certain teacher

that you have at the school that you

think would be really helpful for you at

the table that's noticing that you are

working hard and I would say English

maybe

but I don't know maybe my mother to be

there and your mom too okay what if you

called her um and just invited her and

let her know that there was going to be

a meeting happening and then also let

her know that I'll call her sort of with

the official time how would that be all

right well yeah yeah if we can put our

heads together maybe and think about um

what are the possibilities I mean I get

the whole that there's not a lot of

money for tutoring and stuff but but do

I understand that there is a volunteer

program we might be able to to match you

up with a volunteer we could certainly

um you know give that a try yes so Brian

I'm I'm wondering if um kind of what the

role that you can take on in this too

would you be comfortable going to your

teachers the art and English teacher too

and and kind of saying similar things

like that you know you've been

struggling but you don't want them to

think that you're not trying and that

there is going to be a meeting coming up

how do you feel about

that I guess I could yeah okay You' be

comfortable doing that yeah okay

probably really important too that the

school starts to hear your voice in this

yeah how are you U going to do with that

many people in a room is that going to

be a little bit intimidating or no I

think it's okay okay I mean it'll be it'

be like a great time for you to just s

speak for yourself right like you're a

smart articulate guy like you've got a

lot to say so I think it's a good

opportunity for you to to put that stuff

forward and have people hear

you