10/08/2025
One question we hear from people interested in becoming a support worker is, "What can I do to increase my chances of finding a job in this line of work?"
One of the answers we always give is, "learn the words that help create an inclusive work environment and address the person you may be supporting like you would want to be addressed."
If you are ever unsure, just ask!
We love our labels. My client. My service user. My participant. Each one draws a line, you there, me here. Each word creates distance, a buffer of professionalism. Every word starts with my. Ownership. Possession. Subtle, but real and dangerous. Not long ago, and still in some places today, people have been held captive, their lives controlled by the professionals meant to support them. How many have lived years under someone else’s rules, routines, and definitions of them?
The people we support aren’t ours. They belong to themselves. Forget that, and we stop supporting and start managing. Use people's names whenever you can. When that’s not possible, use language that is person-centered and respectful. For example, the person I support, the person I work for, the people I assist. Words matter.
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ID: Image shows a man sat on a chair looking sad and reflective. To the left text shows that words are being spoken at him as follows: My Consumer, My Individual, My Client, My Service User, My Friend, My Participant. To the right is a speech bubble that reads: I am not your anything I am Nigel.
