Pre-Conference Event #1: Addressing Social Devaluation - The Importance of Valued Social Roles

Addressing Social Devaluation - The Importance of Valued Social Roles

This workshop will present a new way of understanding the lives of marginalized people. Social devaluation is presented as a crucial problem that leads to many wounding experiences for devalued people. Participants will learn about the impact of such experiences and some ways to address social devaluation, namely assisting marginalized people to gain socially valued roles. The concepts introduced in this workshop are part of Social Role Valorization (SRV), developed by Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger, a prominent thinker and leader in human services. This short training can be thought of as a preliminary introduction to SRV theory.

Presenters

Erica Baker-Tinsley

Erica Baker-Tinsley is a Professor and Coordinator of the Developmental Services Worker Program at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Before beginning her teaching career, she worked as a Family Support Coordinator providing support to people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It was through that work that Erica was first introduced to Social Role Valorization. Over the past 25 years, she has been involved in teaching SRV to service workers, administrators, families, and students at both high school and post-secondary levels.

In addition to SRV, Erica is passionate about community development approaches that build strong communities where all members are welcomed and supported. Through her involvement in various non-profit organizations, Erica has engaged in advocacy work promoting inclusive education, food security, and affordable, secure housing. Erica has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Disability Studies from Ryerson University and a Master of Arts Degree in Community Development from the University of Victoria. She is currently a Board Director of the Southern Ontario Training Group, and a member of the Social Role Valorization Development, Training and Safeguarding Council.