For much of the 20th Century people with disabilities were separated from society or unable to access services because of their particular disability. It was during the 1970’s in Australia that attitudes towards people with disabilities began to change. The United Nations and the theories of Normalisation and Social Role Valorisation played an important role in changing attitudes. As a result the State and Commonwealth Governments passed legislation to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
United Nations
It was the United Nations that played an important role in changing peoples attitudes towards people with a disability. It began in 1946 when it produced its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was followed by:
• Declaration on the rights of Mentally Retarded Persons(1971)
• Declaration of Rights of Disabled Persons (1974)
• International Year of Disabled Persons (1981)
• Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992)
• United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993)
Standard Rules
The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities has a section on the ‘fundamental concepts of disability’ that state:
The term ‘equalisation of opportunities’ means the process through which the various systems of society and the environment, such as services, activities, information and documentation, are made available to all, particularly to persons with disabilities.
The principle of equal rights implies that the needs of each and every individual are of equal importance, that those needs must be made the basis for the planning of societies and that all resources must be employed in such a way as to ensure that every individual has equal opportunity for participation.
Persons with disabilities are members of society and have the right to remain within their local communities. They should receive the support they need within the ordinary structures of education, health, employment and social services.
Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities
These actions have helped raise the level of awareness about the rights of people with disabilities in Australia and throughout the world.
Normalisation and Social Role Valorisation
The theory of Normalisation was developed by Neils Bank-Mikkelsen in Denmark and Bengt Nirje in Sweden during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Bengt Nirje is usually credited with the first definition of normalisation.
The normalization principle means making available to all mentally retarded people patterns of life and conditions of everyday living which are as close as possible to the regular circumstances and ways of life or society.
Bengt Nirjie 1982
Bank-Mikkelsen and Nirje’s theory of normalisation was based on a general human rights framework with the aim of achieving ‘normal’ living conditions for people with intellectual disabilities.
Normalization involves the acceptance of people with disabilities, with their disabilities, offering them the same conditions as are offered to other citizens. It involves…the normal conditions of life – housing, schooling, employment, exercise, recreation and freedom of choice.
Bank-Mikkelsen 1976
Wolf Wolfensberger saw the potential of the theory and developed it during the 1970’s & 1980’s and called it Social Role Valorization. He suggested that some groups, including people with disabilities who differ in any way from societal expectations or desirability are devalued by society and as a result are badly treated. His theory suggests that by building a positive image for devalued groups and their members and building up their competence in roles that society values i.e. worker, partner, parent etc will overcome that devaluing and increase their rights and opportunities. Wolfensberger suggests that human service providers should build a positive image and help build the skills and competence of their clients.
State and Commonwealth Governments
The theories of Normalization and Social Role Valorisation have had a significant effect on the way services for people with disabilities have been structured throughout the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.
The early 1980’s saw a shift in emphasis in Disability Services by both State and Commonwealth Governments, from a financial focus, to service quality. Wolfenberger and Normalisation theory had a significant effect on government policy, and influenced changes…and the development of new Commonwealth legislation.
Turnbull 1998 p6
In the early 1980’s the Commonwealth Government began a review of services for people with disabilities, which led to the Disability Services Act 1986. The Act enabled people with disabilities to be included into the community in terms of housing, education, employment, accessibility to services and equal opportunities.
The State and Commonwealth Governments also passed important anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation during the 1980’s and 1990’s. This legislation has produced positive changes and real improvements in the quality of life for people with disabilities.
References
Bank-Mikkelsen, N. 1976, Misconceptions on the principle of normalisation. Address to IASSMD Conference. Washington, D.C.
Nirjie, B. 1982. The basis and logic of the normalisation principle. Sixth International Congress of IASSMD, Toronto
Osborn, J. 2007. An overview of Social Role Valorization theory. [Online]. [Accessed 26 June 2007]. Available World Wide Web:
http://www.socialrolevalorization.com/resource/OSBURN_SRV.htm
Turnbull, T. 1998. A social history of disability services in South Australia and a review of previous, current and future policy directions. Adelaide: University of Adelaide
Westhorp, G., Sebastian, A., Morrell, D. & Mayne, M. 1997. Advocacy and people with a disability: A learning package. Mile End, South Australia: Disability Action Inc
Wolfensberger, W 1991. A brief introduction to social role valorization as a high-order concept for structuring human services. Syracuse, NY: Training Institute for Human Services Planning, Leadership and Change Agentry (Syracuse University)
