Exploring the Past

Sarah Housden's guide starts from the belief that people with learning disabilities have worth in their own right. It argues that recalling and honouring their experiences is a concrete way to show that worth. The book is a practical handbook for using memory in both group and one-to-one settings.

The opening sections make the case for this kind of work and set out sound practice for doing it well. A chapter on life story work with individuals explains how to build a personal record of someone's life. Another section addresses people who have learning disabilities and dementia.

The bulk of the book is a collection of activity ideas, numbering in the dozens, arranged around fifteen themes linked to past memories. These include childhood, food, cooking and shopping, days out and holidays, fashion and personal appearance, and hobbies, interests and work experience.