Keystone Institute India

Social Role Valorization (SRV) theory has been introduced in India with a deep impact over the past four years. It is a social theory which provides a solid framework for understanding social devaluation of vulnerable people and proposes powerful ways to open possibilities for people to experience the good things of life. SRV has implications on personal, family, community, and societal levels and will strengthen effective change agentry efforts.

Social Role Valorization (SRV) theory has been introduced in India with a deep impact over the past four years. It is a social theory which provides a solid framework for understanding social devaluation of vulnerable people and proposes powerful ways to open possibilities for people to experience the good things of life. SRV has implications on personal, family, community, and societal levels and will strengthen effective change agentry efforts.

Across the world, most valued people have some level of choice and voice in their lives, perhaps not about everything but about many things. We make many daily decisions, express our opinions freely, and often have leeway to steer our lives in one direction or another, to take some risks, and to stretch ourselves.

Work gives people a sense of purpose and self-worth. For many, it defines our identify and is a source of pride. Employment not only provides income and economic independence but also opportunities for rich social interactions and a sense of belonging. All individuals, regardless of disability, deserve the opportunity to be full members of the community where they can live, learn, work, and grow.

Across India, change leaders committed to better lives for people with developmental and psychosocial disability are talking about and learning about Social Role Valorization, a powerful set of ideas about how to assist people to have full, rich, meaningful lives. SRV provides a high order framework for understanding the society in which we live, and the place people with disabilities tend to hold within it. As well, SRV thinking is accompanied by very practical implementation strategies to help people with disabilities have access to the good things of life.