The Origins of “Best Practices” in the Principle of Normalization and Social Role Valorization

Wolfensberger's Social Role Valorization (SRV), and its predecessor, the principle of normalization, are acknowledged as having a major positive impact in human services over the last 30+ years. Some direct service applications, techniques, and approaches derived from SRV (or normalization), or at least concordant with these, have been called “best practices.” However, many human service professionals, recipients, and others who seek out and implement these “best practices” do not acknowledge or perhaps understand their connection/relationship to normalization or SRV. These connections are illustrated through examples of “best practices” in the areas of individualization, autonomy and rights, and relationship supports. Also illustrated are drawbacks to pursuing these connections in isolation from SRV, including that the “best practice” dynamic in our field may create barriers to people learning and practicing more fully in their efforts to address complex issues that impact people who are vulnerable. The authors conclude by recommending that when authors conceptualize a “best practice” that is a fragment of, or actually based on the normalization principle or SRV, then the authors should acknowledge this connection, and when practices engendered by normalization and SRV are promoted as “best practices,” their foundation in normalization and SRV be clearly noted.