ABSTRACT
Social role valorization is a development and advance on the often misunderstood and abused Principle of Normalization. Social role valorization refers to the esteem associated with many of the roles in our society. In Canada the field of rehabilitation is dominated by a range of agencies which are designated for the most part, as private structures with their own philosophies and independent boards of management. Education services may be viewed by some as rather different since, in several countries, education of children is required by law, or community school boards generally assume education should be supplied to all children regardless of handicap. Most agencies and organizations have a constitution and a philosophy. The constitution is a means of describing an agency's purpose and reflects a basic philosophy. It is the basic description of its aim from which all of its activities must be derived. Variations in philosophies and goals can have profound effects on the types of service offered.
