Keystone Institute

How can we make connections to places, associations, and opportunities that will give the people we support a chance to participate and contribute their gifts, talents, and passions? We teach and talk a lot in our work about helping vulnerable people get involved in their communities, yet many of us are unsure how to proceed in our own lives, much less in the lives of others. We invite you to explore community with us in an experiential fashion, using a process of discovery called Community Mapping. Where does community life take place? Where are the places that people gather together? How can we join in authentically, and assist others to do so as well? Most importantly, how might life change if we are successful? This two-day event takes an in-depth look at what is involved in Community Mapping and have an opportunity to experience it for yourself.

We often pronounce service practices overwhelmingly “good” or “bad,” yet the reality is more complex as any practice may offer both advantages and pitfalls for vulnerable people. SRV gives us a unique way to assess impact: spotting what helps people access the good things of life, while revealing risks and shortcomings that could cause harm.

This workshop gives participants a practical introduction to the principles of Social Role Valorization. Through a combination of multimedia presentation and small group discussion, participants will learn about the phenomenon of social devaluation. This event includes discussion of how people with disabilities and other devalued groups have been systematically hurt and harmed by society, and what the impact of that devaluation has been. Participants will also learn about ways to help people have better lives by supporting them to achieve positive valued social roles. We will discuss practical strategies to make this a reality for the people you support.

Keystone Institute is offering monthly SRV office hours – a dedicated space for conversation, reflection, and support around Social Role Valorization.

Ideas that Matter is a half-day workshop aimed at offering a very brief look into some of Keystone Human Services’ foundational principles. We begin by exploring the history of disability, including how people with disabilities have been treated and thought about throughout history. We will take time to consider the threads and consequences of historical mindsets on the treatment of people today.

Mapping out a vision of a big, full life for vulnerable people can be full of road bumps. Sometimes we don’t know people very well, sometimes people are uncertain themselves about their identity, gifts, talents and what their future could hold; and sometimes we are so lost in “human service land” that we lose sight of the typical pathways of life and all they have to offer people. But when we are stuck while developing roles, designing services or even planning a housewarming party for someone, using the culturally valued analogue (CVA) can provide us some tried and true guidance to get started, by reminding us to consider “What happens for people with a valued status?”