"Life Books" from my personal experience as a parent

Ann Tombs

What I mean by "Life Books" with examples from my family and friends including people with learning disabilities and their families. The uses and abuses of Life Books.

A few practical hints about making Life Books and why people with learning disabilities are less likely than any other people to have recorded their lives.

Making a Life Book for my son Sandy who has severe learning disabilities and communication problems to:

• use as a communication aide
• help maintain family links
• help Sandy understand his identity and place in history.

What is a Life Book?

• Scrapbooks (general, holiday, special events)
• Photo album, communication book
• History and stories (people, places and things)
• Collections and postcards.

Why make a Life Book?

• Communication
• Memories
• Family links
• History
• Sense of identity
• Valuing people.

Practical points

• Always put name, date and place on photos
• Resolve communication difficulties
• What is the purpose of the book?
• Choose a format (e.g. plastic book) and size
• Set a time limit
• Make photocopies and archive main copy.

Conclusion

• Everyone has a story to tell
• Anything can be a Life Book
• Always put names on photos.