What’s In A Name? Self-Determination, Self-Direction, Self-Advocacy

With all the discussion about "consumerism" in health and human services, there are many terms—old and new—floating around. We've covered the current thinking about customer service and consumer experience (see Consumer Health Care Shopping Means Knowing Your Rates & Showing Your Rates, Consumers Know What They Need. Do We?, and Considering Cash—& Consumerism—In Service Line Planning). But the discussion of new service models for consumers with disabilities has added self-direction, self-determination, and self-advocacy to this lexicon.

There is a lot of reference to the importance of health plans and provider organizations to . . .