RUNNING HEAD: SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 1
Social Role Valorization theory and Its Importance for
Rehabilitation & Human Service Programs
James Brunault
Springfield College
SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 2
Abstract
This paper explores the goals and aims of rehabilitation and human
service programs, and suggests that the people served by such programs would
benefit if the programs embraced, and implemented Social Role Valorization
theory and its principles. Primarily of benefit would be an awareness of the
dynamic of social valuation and devaluation as it relates to the valuing of social
roles held by an individual. “Those in valued roles tend to be treated well and
those in devalued roles ill” (Wolfensberger, 2000 p. 105). Many rehabilitation
and human service programs have, as at least one of their goals, the aim of
helping the people served to achieve greater social acceptance, and relatedly
greater independence, and autonomy. However because many service
programs virtually ignore the stigmatizing effect, on the people they serve, of how
their services are structured, delivered and viewed by the public their own
business practices often counter or undo this intended aim of greater social
acceptance and its related benefits. .
SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 3
Social Role Valorization theory and Its Importance for Rehabilitation and Human Service Programs
One of the stated or implied goals of many rehabilitation and human
service programs is to make better the lives of the people served. To help people
with some type of impairment, disability, handicap or other limiting factor to
become more integrated in their communities, and to gain the ancillary benefits
of such social acceptance/integration.
Rehabilitation Counseling is defined by Parker, Szymanski, and Patterson
(YEAR) as: “A systematic process which assists persons with physical,
mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their
personal, career and independent living goals in the most integrated setting
possible through the application of the counseling process. The counseling
process involves communication, goal-setting, and beneficial growth or
change through self-advocacy, psychological, vocational, social and
behavioral interventions. (p. 3)
The Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) in Massachusetts,
formerly known as the Department of Mental Retardation/DMR, mission
statement reads “The Department is dedicated to creating, in partnership with
others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual
disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their
communities as valued members.” (http://mass.gov/dmr)
SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 4
The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council web site states that the
purpose of the council is “Providing opportunities for people with developmental
disabilities and their families to enhance independence, productivity, and
inclusion.” (www.mass.gov/mddc). On the federal level the Americans with
Disabilities Act amendment of 2008 sought to reinforce the intent of the original
act of 1990 that a disabling condition of any type should not prohibit social
inclusion
1) In enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Congress intended
that the Act “provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination
of discrimination against individuals with disabilities” and provide broad coverage;
(2) in enacting the ADA, Congress recognized that physical and mental disabilities in
no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society, but that
people with physical or mental disabilities are frequently precluded from doing so
because of prejudice, (emphasis added) antiquated attitudes, or the failure to remove
societal and institutional barriers; (ADA Amendment act of 2008, P.L. 110, section
12101).
If the goal of rehabilitation and humans service programs is to make
people’s lives better by partnering with individuals, with disabilities, to help them
to achieve greater societal inclusion, greater access to meaningful careers, and
maximum independent living; than rehabilitation and human services should
SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 5
more actively embrace, teach, and implement, ideologies, beliefs and practices
that promote Social Role Valorization theory (SRV).
SRV theory is widely recognized as being the successor to Normalization
theory. Normalization theory in North American was propagated by Wolf
Wolfensberger in his 1972 work “Principles of Normalization in human services”,
Wolfensberger wrote this building on the work of Bengt Nirje in Europe. This text
along with Wolfensberger’s 1969 book "The Origin and Nature of Our
Institutional Models” is widely credited as being one of the main intellectual
components behind the deinstitutionalization movement, and ultimately the
community living movement of the 1970’s and 1980’s in the United states
particularly among services for people with developmental disabilities.
“Principles of Normalization in Human services” was selected in 1999 by
……….. as the most influential text in the history of human services (Get citation
from Marc/Jo) and Dr. Wolfensberger, In 1999, was selected by representatives
of seven major mental retardation organizations as one of the thirty-five parties
that had been most impactful on mental retardation services worldwide in the
20th century.
What is Social Role Valorization and how is it compatible with the goal(s)
of rehabilitation and other human services? There have been numerous
refinements of the “definition” of SRV over the years; following are two of the
more comprehensive ones.
SOCIAL ROLE VALORIZATION 6
One definition of Social Role Valorization (SRV) is:
The application of empirical knowledge to the shaping of the current or
potential social roles of a party (i.e., person group or class) -- primarily by
means of the party’s competencies and images -- so that these are, as much
as possible, positively valued in the eyes of the perceivers (Osburn 2006,
pg.1)
Another definition, one used by Dr. Wolfensberger is, “The application of what
science can tell us about the enablement, establishment, enhancement,
maintenance, and/or defense of valued social roles for people" (Thomas and
Wolfensberger in Flynn and Lemay 1999). One of the main components of both
of these definitions, is the idea of the promotion of valued social roles for people;
why? SRV theory proposes that people with valued social roles are more likely
to be, in turn, more socially valued; and people who are more socially valued
tend to be to be treated better by society. “Those in valued roles tend to be
treated well and those in devalued roles ill” (Wolfensberger, 2000 p. 105).
Wolfensberger has recognized that society often tends to label individuals and
groups of people. When negative, this label often means that society looks at
these people as having less value than everyone else or being, in
Wolfensberger’s words, devalued.
From this analysis, the idea that people with more valued social roles are
socially more valued, and treated better than those with less valued roles, the
natural next step is for advocates, of the devalued, to seek to debunk, and
counteract these societal labels. The means of countering this negative labeling
and its effect on the devalued person is to help that person to be seen in a more
positive way, a way that is counter to the negative label. This maybe done by
working with the devalued person/group to change the way they are seen and
labeled by society. Or by working with society to change the way they see the
devalued group/person so that they, society, will label the group or person
differently. That is to get society to see the group/person positively and then to
label them positively. People who are labeled positively by society tend to be
treated well by society. In either case, working with the individual to change how
society sees them or working with society to change how they see the individual,
one of the most effective tools is to help the individual to have or be seen to have
valued social roles. An example might be explaining to someone that the
disheveled person that they just met is related to someone rich and famous. Our
role as relative to someone, in this case a rich famous someone, may not actual
change who we are but it does often have the effect of changing how others view
us i.e. who has not heard at some time “oh you’re _______ brother/sister/son
daughter” etc… sometimes it raises our esteem in the persons eyes and
sometimes it lowers it, but not because of us but because of the person we are
related to, a social role.
Social role theory has deep roots in Sociology and goes back, at least, to
the work of Talcott Parsons. According to SRV theory
“A social role may be viewed as a combination of behaviors, functions, relationships, privileges, duties, and responsibilities that is socially defined, is
widely understood and recognized within a society and is characteristic or expected of a person who occupies a position within a particular society”. (Wolfensberger 1998 pg. 25)
There are myriads of examples that show that how the social role(s) a
person has or is perceived to have effects the way they are are treated. The
shabbily dressed person on the street with thousands of dollars secreted away in
their mattress at home is more likely to be treated in accord with their social
image than in the manner of someone who is known to be wealthy. Likewise the
prestigious and recognized millionaire who has unknown debt far in excess of
their assets is still likely to be treated in a positive manner based on the role that
they are perceived to be filling. An old adage asks “what is the difference
between crazy and eccentric?; answer: a million dollars.” How many people with
neuromuscular diseases and no intellectual disability are treated, even on a daily
basis, as if they were mentally retarded? Because of the assumptions that are
then made by individuals in society and society at large because of their
appearance or image.
Certainly there is a rich history of anecdotal evidence of people with
Multiple Sclerosis or Muscular Dystrophy being “mistakenly” placed in
institutions for people with mental retardation and labeled as “retarded”; only to
have it later discovered, often serendipitously, that they were not. Often they
could read, communicate, and otherwise function at normative intellectual levels,
but because they looked different, and lived in a places that served people with
intellectual disabilities, and were surrounded by staff that serve people with
developmental impairments their whole image said “mentally retarded’ even
though they were not. So how were they treated? They were treated in accord
with what was imagined about them, not what was true, the social role was
stronger than the truth.
SRV theory identifies several ways in which people’s devalued status can
be reinforced, ways in which individuals can be publically labeled as being
negatively different. SRV theory refers to this as “branding” and this brand or
mark can be communicated to the general public in several ways through what
are known as channels or media.
Some of the ways that an individual can be “branded” as devalued.
Segregation:
Congregation:
Combining segregation & congregation:
The images that are used to represent people:
Language that is used about people:
The manner in which people are addressed:
How their time is used:
The physical setting that someone is in:
A person’s manner of dress:
The possessions that someone ones:
This is only a small sampling of some of the ways SRV identifies
“branding” or devaluation as being socially communicated. Observes will
probably note that many, if not all, of these practices are routinely used in
rehabilitation and human service programs. Often the service program has some
rationale for the practice. Saving money, serving more people with less staff,
assuring safety, ease of providing services; are some rationales commonly cited,
among others, by service agencies. No matter what the reason, and no matter
how valid the reason, what is also true is that these practices are very likely to
label the people served as different in a way that is usually considered negative.
This negative labeling, or devaluation, is likely to increase the probability that
these people will be treated poorly by society.
SRV theory shows and most people understand that to be different in a
way that is considered negative usually means that you will be treated negatively.
Unfortunately it is the very rehabilitation and service programs that purport to be
helping people that are often reinforce these negative perceptions and labeling
causing the people they seek to help to be treated more poorly.
The story of George:
When George G. first met Karlene he was a man in his 40’s living in Western
Massachusetts. George had lived at the Belchertown State School, in
Belchertown MA for most of his life, but was now “living in the community” as a
result of deinstitutionalization. George would walk the streets of his Chicopee
neighborhood wearing his to small cowboy hat, his plastic cowboy boots, with his
toy holster and six guns strapped to his waist. Staff had been working with
George to try to get him to dress more “age appropriate” with little success. Then
Karlene came into his life, Karlene was an integration facilitator for the agency
that supported George. She sat down with him and helped George to explore his
dreams and to tell her what he wanted in life. George had two things, he wanted
to work at a bingo and to march in a parade. After some more time spent with
George, it was decided that Karlene would help him to join the Knights of
Columbus (K of C) an organization that had a chapter right in George’s
neighborhood. Karlene contacted the K of C and found someone to act as
George’s sponsor and contact within the organization. George became a Knight.
Things began to happen in George’s life. He had told Karlene one of the
things he wanted to do in life was work at a bingo, and George’s council has a
bingo every Thursday night. Soon George could be found there every week, a
steady and dependable volunteer. As time went by George progressed in the
Knights and soon he was a fourth degree, as such George had to purchase a
tuxedo and would at times serve in the honor guard for the Catholic bishop of the
diocese at various liturgical and church events
The Knights also march in Holyoke’s large and popular St. Patrick’s Day
parade, second largest in the country, held each March around the feast of St.
Patrick; George had achieved his other dream.
George’s story does not stop here however. Like many people in public
services George had spent many holidays with his staff, having no freely given
relationships in his life that were strong enough to warrant a holiday invite.
George had spent the last few Thanksgivings and Christmases with Karlene, as
the time approached Karlene called George to make plans. When she spoke with
him on the phone about plans and when she would pick him up, there was a
silence from the other, sensing something amiss Karlene asked George what
was wrong, almost sheepishly he explained that he had been invited to spend the
holiday with some of his friends from the Knights. Not staff, not someone taking
pity, just friends he had made in his now 2 – 3 year old role as knight. Still the
story continues, one day George told Karlene he had something to tell her. He
and his friend Joan wanted to live near each other. They had become friends
while both were living at Belchertown State School and now were in the process
of reconnecting. There were things to consider, George wanted to stay in the
neighborhood he was in so that he could continue to walk to the Knights in the
evening for meetings, bingo and socializing in the members lounge. The
apartment complex George was in did not have any extra apartments so a new
complex was found, and the landlord was convinced to give George and Joan
two apartments next to each other even though he had to move some other
clients around. Karlene was able to promise him that he had two committed long
term tenants if a deal could be reached, the deal was reached. As moving day
approached Karlene and George’s other staff looked into renting a moving van
and trying to line up various staff to help with the move. Moving day arrived, and
as Karlene now says if you ever have to move JOIN THE KNIGHTS, several of
George’s friends, his brother Knights showed up many of them with there pick-up
trucks. A couple hours later George was not only moved into but was also set up
in his new apartment.
Now in the evening George and Joan would walk together to the Knights
to socialize and hang out in the members lounge. The time came a few years
later that George and Joan had another bombshell, they wanted to get married.
The reality was, Karlene knew, they couldn’t really afford it. If George and Joan
were to marry they would lose a portion of their already small entitlement income.
After consulting with an attorney it was decided that George and Joan would
have a commitment ceremony so they could maintain their income. But still the
question was how to afford everything. Well in all the time George, and now Joan
had been going up to the Knights in the evening George had not only made
friends but so had Joan. The ladies auxiliary of the Knights went to work, Joan
had a shower and the ladies also decided to provide all of the flowers for the
ceremony. George as a Knight was able to have the event and the reception at
the council’s banquet hall for a fraction of the regular cost. Other friends pitched
in and the event went off without a hitch.
Still this is not the end of the story. One day Karlene was attending an
event at the Knight’s that George had invited her to. She was approached by one
of the Knights who asked her if she was the women that helped George to join
the Knights. Karlene replied that she was. This gentleman told her that he had
been against George joining the Knights that he had known George before he
joined the Knights and that he felt uncomfortable around him. He told Karlene
that he had lived in the same neighborhood as George, and that he used to cross
the street when he saw George coming, wearing his cowboy hat and toy guns.
He said that by being in the Knights with George, that George had taught him
that there were no “different people” just differences among people. He then told
Karlene “I will never again cross the street to get away from someone like
George”.
Terms defined:
One definition of Social Role Valorization (SRV):
The application of empirical knowledge to the shaping of the current or potential social roles of a party (i.e., person group or class) -- primarily by
means of the party’s competencies (emphasis added) and images -- so that these are, as much as possible, positively valued in the eyes of the perceivers (Osburn 2006, pg.1)
Social role:
A social role may be viewed as a combination of behaviors, functions, relationships, privileges, duties, and responsibilities that is socially defined, is widely understood and recognized within a society and is characteristic or expected of a person who occupies a position within a particular society (Wolfensberger 1998 pg. 25)
Medical definition of Rehabilitation:
The process of restoration of skills by a person who has had an illness or injury so as to regain maximum self-sufficiency and function in a normal or as near normal manner as possible. For example, rehabilitation after a stroke may help the patient walk again and speak clearly again.
The word comes from the Latin "rehabilitare" meaning to make fit again.
MedicineNet.com retrieved October 23, 2009 Last Editorial Review: 5/14/2003
Rehabilitation Counseling:
A systematic process which assists persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career and independent living goals in the most integrated setting possible through the application of the counseling process. The counseling process involves communication, goal-setting, and beneficial growth or change through self-advocacy, psychological, vocational, social and behavioral interventions. (Parker, Szymanski, Patterson pg. 3)
(Social Role Valorization, when well applied, has potential to help
societally devalued people to gain greater access to the good things of life
and to be spared at least some of the negative effects of social
devaluation.) (Figure out how to use)
The human services world is presently facing difficult financial times. In
Massachusetts the Governor’s office has announced additional cuts of 2,000
state jobs bringing the total in the last two fiscal years to 3,400. This is in addition
to severe cuts to vendor agencies amounting to over 10% reduction in state
funding to service agencies. Additionally the state has defunded several
programs almost to the state of non-existence; i.e. the Department of
Developmental Services, has almost completely defunded any vendors involved
in the family support services, leaving clients and families with only service
coordination from the department itself.
In truth this type of fiscal pressure is at best cyclical and, maybe even
more realistically, at worst always present with the only question being the
intensity of the fiscal pressure at any given time. The pressures caused by
significant reductions in state financing leads to difficult choices needing to be
made, while still trying to preserve the integrity and quality of service especially at
the direct service level. Human service quality often is linked to the question of
personnel and their values, and their focus. Social Role Valorization Theory its’
ideologies and values are largely conveyed through training. One of the first
items to be cut and/or reduced in times of fiscal stress is training. The perception
being that it does not add to the bottom line, that it is a cost without a tangible
return. There are assumptions made in many service settings that if a service is
provided it must be meeting a need, and this assumption often escapes critical
examination. Another assumption, often made, is that if a program is making
money or receiving referrals from a funding source, such as the state or federal
government, then it must be a good program; again there is often a lack of true
critical examination. What is it that makes a rehabilitation service or program a
success?
The field of rehabilitation, particularly public and vocational rehabilitation
often focuses its attention to the address the needs of moderate and severely
disabled individuals. One of the stated ideologies of rehabilitation services is to
work in partnership with the people served, planning and developing service
strategies and adjustments to disability and social injustice that leads to or allows
discrimination in the workplace and other sectors of society.
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