TIME MATTERS – CONSTRUCTING CHRONOLOGICAL NARRATIVE
People with intellectual disability, autism, trauma and acquired brain injury may have difficulty pinpointing when events occurred. They may also have difficulty putting a series of actions or events into a chronological sequence.
Here are some strategies to assist:
• Outline the interview structure to the client before it begins. For example, describe the expected length of interview, number of breaks and the likely topics. Make sure to notify the client of any changes to the schedule.
• Signpost each topic. Write key words for the sections/topics of the interview on paper or a whiteboard. Draw images if the person cannot read. Explain “Now we have finished with …. And we will start talking about ….”
• Draw diagrams or flow charts to represent the narrative or justice process.
• Be aware that some people do not understand words that indicate when something happened. For example “before”, “after”, “during”, “last week”, “next month” or days of the week and months of the year.
The following strategies may be useful:
- Use signposts or static events to establish when events occurred. For example “Was Christmas/your birthday coming?”, “In the summer time or winter time?”, “What year at school was it?”, “Daytime or night?” “Was it dark or light?”, “On a school day?”, “On a footy day?”, “During the 5pm news on channel 7?” or other significant times in the client’s life, daily or weekly routine.
- Support the sequencing of events with picture representations – stick figures and simple drawings – or a key word for each detail on a Post-it note or other movable method. Therefore, when discussing timing of events, details can be moved around easily.
- You could develop two or more comic- strip narratives (using Post-it notes) if different people or places are involved, then sequence the events for each narrative.
32
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39
