Person
Who is this person? What matters to them, and how do they communicate?
The ReStory approach
Every person.
A fuller story.
A narrative and neurodiversity-affirming framework for looking beyond assumptions and becoming curious about the story behind behaviour.
Listen to the person. Explore the context. Make room for possibility.
More than a problem story
There is more
to every story.
The stories we hold about ourselves are shaped by experiences, relationships, culture and the systems we encounter.
A difficult experience can become a dominant account of who we are. “I made a mistake” may become “I am a failure.” The experience starts to feel like the whole identity.
ReStory makes space to separate the person from the problem and explore other stories that also hold meaning: strengths, values, identity, connection and hope.
This does not dismiss trauma, loss or hardship. It asks whether the difficult story is the only story available.
A change in the questions we ask
Curiosity creates
more possibilities.
Different questions can help us consider what a person may be experiencing, communicating or needing.
A first interpretationA question to explore
“Why won’t they cooperate?”
“What might be making this difficult?”
“How do we make them change?”
“What could we change around them?”
“How do we manage this behaviour?”
“What is the person experiencing, communicating or needing?”
The neurodiversity-affirming lens
Difference, context
and understanding.
There is no single neurodivergent experience. People have different strengths, needs, communication styles and support requirements.
ReStory encourages participants to consider the environment, relationships, expectations and available support alongside a person’s response. A different sensory environment, more processing time or a change in communication may offer another way forward.
The question becomes: what can we learn about the person and their circumstances before deciding what their behaviour means?
The practical framework
Five prompts.
A fuller understanding.
Context
What is happening around them?
Experience
What might they be experiencing?
Response
How are they coping, communicating or protecting themselves?
Story
What story are we developing about what this means?
Can we change the context, support the experience or reconsider our response before deciding that the person needs to change?
Professional language matters
Describe the experience.
Leave room for the person.
The words used in a meeting or case note can shape how the next person understands someone.
A label
“He is non-compliant.”
A more descriptive account“He has not followed the agreed plan. Further exploration is needed to understand what made the plan difficult to implement.”
Practice example from the ReStory resourceA conversation is a good place to start
What could ReStory
bring to your team?
Tell us who you work alongside and what you would like to explore. We can discuss the programme, format and next steps.
Discuss training for your team