What Are Language Access Services?
What Are Language Access Services?
The phrase "language access services" describes services that agencies use to bridge the communication barrier with individuals who cannot speak, understand, read, or write English fluently. Both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and President Clinton's 2000 LEP Executive Order (Executive Order 13166) mandate compliance for any agency receiving federal funds.
Click here for more information about the legal requirements to provide language access and access MPI's non-governmental language access resource guide, which contains information on state and local language access coalitions and other advocate networks working with limited English proficient communities to improve language access.
Examples of agency-wide initiatives that make services accessible to LEP clients include the following:
- Recruiting, employing and retaining bilingual employees (For example, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Interpreter/Translator Job Description)
- Contracting with translation/interpretation companies (For example, State of Washington's Request For Proposal (RFP) for Translation Services)
- Creating comprehensive plans to serve Limited English Proficient populations (For example, Hennepin County Limited English Proficiency Plan – Health and Human Services Departments)
- Translating key documents (For example, Florida Department of Children & Families' application for benefits)
- Establishing offices dedicated to Language Access Service (For example, Oakland, California's Equal Access Office)