Jhalak Glimpses
Keystone Moldova English and Keystone Moldova Romanian
Keystone Human Services (KHS) is a non-profit organization that is a part of a global movement to provide support and expertise to people with disabilities.
Jhalak offers a glimpse into some of the inspired actions, large and small, taking place across India toward an inclusive Indian society where everyone has a valued place. Thousands of us across India have been exposed to ideas and ways of thinking that are exciting, challenging, and a bit daunting. These ideas include the introduction of tools to advance highly individualized inclusive practices based on the foundation of Social Role Valorization.
Photo by Sujata Khanna Photography
We’ve left workshops and facilitated discussions deeply strengthened by the networks and bonds of a shared vision, but sometimes also feeling distanced and alone as we seek to communicate our vision of living and working and sharing life alongside people with disability. We recognize that this transformation toward making the good things of life available to all, including people with disability, is a part of what India has to offer a world which appears more divided every day.
Jhalak offers a glimpse of some of the transformative ways that people and organizations across India have put the elegantly simple but paradoxically complex theory of Social Role Valorization to work. Some are practices related to the direct life changes experienced by people with disability and their families, and others are organizational change efforts that are part of a broader transformative effort.
Consider it a bit of a curated “clearinghouse” of vision converted to action, of small steps forming the fabric of our movement towards equity, justice, and full, rich, meaningful lives. We encourage you to share and celebrate the work of building this inclusive house. After seeing the glimpses offered, you may consider submitting other action steps you are aware of to highlight, inspire, and challenge our community.
Lastly, we must thank the small but mighty Rajasthani SRV implementation group for forming this idea, for setting us on this path, and for providing a spark from which this small fire grew.
Photo by Sujata Khanna Photography
Our vision is one where all people, regardless of ability or disability, are valued and contributing members of society. We believe that diverse and welcoming communities experience the gifts of all their members, and that such communities have much to teach us about how to live in harmony together.
Our community of practice stretches across India, and is comprised of activists, people with disabilities, advocates, family members, and those who are allies alongside vulnerable people. We are committed to learning about and using important and high-level idea sets, such as the principles of Social Role Valorization, as well as person-centered inclusive practice in education, community life, vocation, home, and relationships. We are also committed to putting those ideas into practice.
We work each in collaboration with each: all are both teachers and learners, and we share what seems to work toward our vision freely. All of us are leaders in our commitment to better lives, whether through formal teaching, implementation, powerful role modeling, or sharing through media and writing. Our commitment to create a better world is one thing we share, along with a belief that our thinking frameworks, such as our core framework of SRV, are good guidance on the path toward such worthy work.
We invite you to share in the vision, the partnership, the hard work of creating change that brings the good things of life to us all. The work sketched in these glimpses bring to life incremental change actions which we think move the world a fraction closer toward the world we want to create.
