Friday, May 9th, 2025
9:30am - 10:45am
Room 609
Concurrent Session:
Applying Social Role Valorization to Family Reunification as a means of Deinstitutionalization in India
Applying Social Role Valorization to Family Reunification as a means of Deinstitutionalization in India
Deinstitutionalization has recently gained significant attention in India. The Unity Uttarakhand Program works to use the construct of model coherency, regardless of whether the reunification of an individual is advisable at present or not. Reunification specialists work to discern the most pressing needs of each individual as well as the needs of the family, and from this position of understanding, they formulate ways to increase the likelihood of family reunifications that will stand the test of time. However, due to the challenges related to multiple jeopardies, including stigma owing to disability, deep and persistent poverty, gender discrimination, socialization practices, and diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the outcomes of implementing SRV in the family reunification process does not always fully align with the intended expectations. The proposal, therefore, explores the evolution of better practices of deinstitutionalization in India through a Model Reunification framework using the principles and themes of SRV, which will, in addition to providing support and empowering reunified individuals within their communities, will also serve as a reference for future family reunifications.
Presenters
Shalini Bisht​
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Shalini Bisht is a Reunification Specialist with the Keystone Institute India since 2022. She has her Master’s degree in social work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai in Disability Studies and Action. Since her academic years, she has been actively involved in creating awareness around women empowerment, child development, and disability inclusion by organizing workshops for rural communities and parents. She is a strong advocate for the significance of childhood experiences in shaping one's personality, as well the crucial role of family in the development of an individual.​
Ramanathan S
Ramanathan S is a Reunification Specialist with the Keystone Institute India since 2023. He has a Master’s in social work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai in Disability Studies and Action. Before joining Keystone Institute India, he worked as a Rehabilitation Social Worker, Research Officer, and Program Coordinator in an organization based out of Kerala. He has six years of experience working in the field of Disability, particularly in the areas of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), Family Interventions for Children with Developmental Disabilities, and Social Integration of Adults with Disabilities.
Sangeeta Bhatt
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Sangeeta Bhatt is working as a Reunification Specialist with the Keystone Institute India since 2023. She is a Ph.D. scholar in Human Development and Family Studies at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She has also served as visiting research student at Open University, UK. She has been awarded various scholarships in her career, including the Newton Bhabha Ph.D. placement Grant and University Grants Commission Senior Research Fellowship.