Hettiarachchi, S.2016-08-262016-08-262016Journal of Intellectual Disabilities.2016;20(1):18-331744-6295 (Print)1744-6309 (Electronic)1744-6295 (Linking)http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/14184Indexed in MEDLINE, In ScopusBACKGROUND: Children diagnosed with intellectual difficulties experience difficulties with narrative skills, due to limited syntactic knowledge. The Colourful Semantics approach with thematic roles and a colour coding system may encourage syntactic development in children experiencingintellectual disabilities. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of using the Colourful Semantics approach to develop narrative skills in Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking childrendiagnosed with intellectual difficulties. METHODS: Thirty Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking children identified with intellectual difficulties were included. The Colourful Semantics approach was offered twice a week for 6 weeks, facilitated by the class teachers. Pre- and post-intervention narrative skill assessments were undertaken and analysed for content and syntactic structures. RESULTS: The results indicate positive changes post-intervention on the qualitative and quantitative narrative skills measures undertaken on content and syntactic structures. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The Colourful Semantics approach is an effective therapy approach to support development of narrativeskills in children with intellectual difficulties.en-USSemanticsNarration*Intellectual Disability-rehabilitationLanguage DevelopmentLanguage Therapy-methodsChildSri LankaArticle