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Bob adjusts to life - and so do his parents
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When is a good time to recive your own About U Report? In Bob's case it was when he was 14. (Both his parents also took the assessment in order to better understand the family's dynamics.)
He was struggling in school, his teachers wanted to label him high-level Asperger (a form of autism) and put him into special education. His parents felt that this was not the appropriate avenue for his growth.
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So they removed him from public school and started home schooling him. Bob's learning styles and personality characteristics clashed with the school environment. He was 1.) too direct, 2.) focused on one thing at a time and found it uncomfortable to change rapidly from activity to activity, and 3.) wanted clear instructions with definite boundaries established.
Yet he was also a avaricious reader and retained everything he read. In fact, his recall of information was remarkable for any aged individual. His curiosity about the world, how things work, and history was way above the norm. He could appear a bit stilted/awkward in his social relationships and be perceived as cool rather than showing his hidden warmth and concern for others. When all these personality characteristics and their accompanying behaviors were discussed with the parents, they were more convinced that home schooling was the immediate answer for Bob. His father had similar patterns and so the family was able to look at Bob's unique behaviors and his strengths and discuss these with him. So Bob began home schooling and for a couple of years he blossomed.
When he was seventeen, though, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Now the family had another opportunity to forge ahead with a unique way to manage Bob's care. Utilizing his reading, research and retention strengths Bob did the research on his condition and potential healing therapies as well as chemotherapy and accompanying procedures. He even, as a teenager, gave presentations to hospital staff on his condition and how to treat him.
Bob used his strengths during his entire treatment period. His family, aware of these strength as a result of the About U Report, relied on Bob as they negotiated the course of treatment. They also used their knowledge of his needs as well as their own as they managed this new situation. The About U Report is enabling this family to have clearer communications, seize on each of their strengths in managing during this time of crisis.
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