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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