The journey of people with disabilities is often shadowed by societal stigmas and labels that can limit their opportunities and undermine their potential. I have witnessed firsthand how, despite their capabilities, people with disabilities often find themselves in roles that don’t reflect their skills, interests, or dreams. These roles—sometimes overly passive, isolating, or dependent—can make people feel undervalued or, at worst, invisible. This is where Social Role Valorization (SRV) comes into play, offering a transformative approach to changing these dynamics and affirming the intrinsic worth of individuals with disabilities by enabling them to take on socially valued roles.
Consider the daily lives of individuals with disabilities in typical community settings: Many are often excluded from meaningful work, and, as a result, their interactions are primarily with caregivers or medical professionals rather than friends, neighbors, or colleagues. They may be involved in activities that are more about occupying time than fulfilling personal growth, such as repetitive tasks in workshops or solitary activities that rarely bring them into broader social circles. This isolation fosters a cycle of devaluation, where their contributions are limited, and their sense of agency diminishes. For instance, I’ve seen individuals with incredible creative abilities be assigned monotonous tasks in sheltered workshops, which barely allowed for personal expression. Their talents were hidden from society, reinforcing the stereotype that they were not capable of more engaging work. These roles, though well-intended, often have the unintended consequence of reinforcing stigma by keeping people within boundaries defined more by their disabilities than by their potential.
Social Role Valorization, developed by Wolf Wolfensberger, aims to break this cycle of devaluation by affirming the right of people with disabilities to occupy roles that society values and respects. SRV is grounded in the principle that people’s lives can be profoundly improved when they hold roles that are meaningful to them and valued by society. Rather than focusing on deficits, SRV focuses on creating positive identities and opportunities. For example, when SRV principles were implemented in a community arts program, I witnessed how an individual with a developmental disability, previously seen as limited in communication, flourished as a contributing artist. Given access to creative tools, encouragement, and an audience, this person’s artistic voice was not only acknowledged but celebrated. Their artwork was exhibited in local galleries, reshaping how others viewed them and providing them with a new, empowering role as a recognized artist in the community.
Another example involved a local café initiative designed to give individuals with intellectual disabilities a chance to work as servers and baristas. Initially, there were concerns about their ability to handle customer service tasks, but with training and supportive guidance, these individuals became more confident and skilled. Customers appreciated their warmth and dedication, and the workers began to form meaningful relationships with regular patrons. Employment opportunities such as Tech Analysts, Newsroom editor, Data Analysts paved the career path thus opening doors to many valued roles such as employee, team member, colleague and many more. In these roles, the employees with disabilities were not just helped but were integral contributors to the business, reshaping perceptions in real time.
Social Role Valorization is more than an approach which is a shift in perspective that encourages us to reimagine the lives of people with disabilities in ways that affirm their dignity, agency, and humanity. When society values all individuals equally, every person can shine in roles that bring out the best in them. By embracing SRV in our communities, policies, and daily interactions, we’re not just including people with disabilities rather we’re enriching society as a whole by affirming that everyone has something valuable to offer.
– B.Preethi Meena
Assistant professor, School of social work, KCLAS