Keystone Institute

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?”

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.

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.

Much can be learned about human effort, societal forces of oppression and marginalization, and the possibilities for change by studying the rise and fall of “The Great Institutions.” This presentation will describe the founding of such institutions, with lofty and earnest aspirations, through the vast growth of segregation and congregation fed by eugenics ideology, and the eventual decline of the “total institution.”

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.

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