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One of the changes that comes with person centered values is "Person First Language". Unfortunately, people are still debating about some parts of person first language.

At one time, people with disabilities were referred to as "patients" or by their disability ("epileptic"). Today, people involved with disabilities see these as kind of rude labels because they tend to depersonalize someone into a stereotype and imply that the person is passive. In the 1950's people in human services began using the term "client" instead. Some people object to "client" because it implies a lower social or educational status for the person with a disability compared to the service provider. Many people use the term "consumer", but some people also object to it because it implies someone who consumes and uses up resources. Some groups are using the term "customer", to be part of the popular movement towards customer service and satisfaction. But even this term has people that object to it, who point out that people getting rehabilitation services do not purchase the services; the taxpayers or employers pay for it.

The term "disabled people" or "the disabled" also has problems, since it suggests that their disability is the person's defining feature. Remember the first principle of person centered values? People can have a disability without being the disability. Labels that focus on limitations can be self-fulfilling - if someone thinks they are limited by their disability, they may give up and not even try new things. Because of this, a person can think they are more "disabled" than they truly are.

In general, we should try to focus on the person and see both disabilities and abilities from their point of view, instead of from a medical definition or stereotype.

There is still no perfect term to use, but most professionals favor "person with a disability", "customer", or "consumer". "Client" is still used when there is an actual (or perceived) difference in education or authority between the person receiving services and the provider - for example, in vocational rehabilitation counseling. We believe that, most of the time, none of these terms are perfect for focusing attention on the person and away from stereotypes about disabilities. People with disabilities do not fit into simple categories, as the diversity in our case studies show.

Although it may seem awkward at first, the phrase "person with a disability" is the phrase most people use. When you are talking about a particular person, you simply use their specific disability. For example, "person with a spinal cord injury" instead of "quadriplegic", "person with diabetes" instead of "diabetic", or "person with blindness" instead of "that blind guy." Or better still, just refer to people by their names (Tim, Sharon, Carmen, etc.).

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