Developing Spatial and Temporal Awareness Skills

Core Orientation Skills: Spatial and Temporal Awareness

Spatial Orientation: Locating Yourself and Destination

Spatial orientation is the ability for a person to be aware of their current location and know where they want to go. The methodology involves taking advantage of everyday situations.

Methodology for Spatial Intervention

The intervention in this area involves the following work, typically addressed in the order listed:

• 1. Basic Concepts in Everyday Situations

  • General terms: *in-out, top-down*, etc.
  • Specific concepts: cardinal points, road signs (traffic lights, etc.).

• 2. Working with Benchmarks (Landmarks)

  Benchmarks include significant buildings, monuments, and shops.

  The identification task begins with recognizing landmarks in the real context, then progresses to distinguishing them using photographs, prints, drawings, models, etc.

• 3. Working Distance Calculation

  At this stage, exercise the calculation of sizes of different objects and routes using various measurement systems (*e.g., inches, steps*).

• 4. Working Routes and Navigation

  Steps for Route Training:

  1. Learn the course by performing it in real-time. The user will memorize both structural and spatial landmarks (e.g., concrete buildings, determined features).
  2. Once the previous step is internalized, the user attempts to point out or trace the trip on a map or plane.
  3. When the user is able to independently mark the route on the map and ask for help if necessary, the goal is to make the journey unaccompanied.

Temporal Orientation: Chronological Assessment

Temporal orientation is defined as the ability to accurately assess the chronological order of events, the relationships between them, and place them correctly in time.

Criteria for Temporal Orientation Skills

A person demonstrates temporal orientation skills if they:

• Are aware of the day, date, month, and year.
• Know the time of day and the approximate time.
• Know what activity they are scheduled to do at a specific time.
• Know how long an activity will take.

Key Areas for Temporal Orientation Training

Areas of focus for training:

• 1. Working Concepts (Real and Everyday Situations)

  • General concepts: Before, after, now, hour, day, week, year, seasons, etc.
  • Concrete concepts: Anniversaries, special days (doctor visits, etc.), special events (holidays, excursions, etc.), and public holidays (Christmas, Carnival, etc.).

• 2. Working Everyday Events and Routines

  A person's day consists of a series of routine, repeated activities: breakfast, lunch, dinner, daily tasks, etc.

• 3. Working Specific Dates and Scheduling

  Following the previous point, special dates such as birthdays, name days (*onomastic*), etc., are recorded in the user's weekly schedule or agenda.

• 4. Stimulating Memory for Orientation

  Stimulating memory (visual, tactile, auditory, gustatory, and psychomotor) is a cross-cutting process across all stages. Memory is a basic requirement for both temporal and spatial orientation.