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As healthcare in the United States increasingly becomes available to lower income and immigrant populations via the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans are removing barriers to eligibility and increasing benefits. As a result, they’re gaining millions of new customers and many of the new enrollees are recent immigrants with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). In order to best serve the LEP population, health insurance plans are providing translated materials to new members to help them understand the terms, benefits, and details of their new health care plans. Forward looking plan providers are discovering that LEP members are loyal and profitable. Language access is a small expense that pays huge dividends. A series of upcoming bills in California makes it the law to provide even more translation support: We expect Governor Jerry Brown to sign these measures to provide even better and more accessible information to the newly insured LEP populations of California. Over the next few weeks and months we will discuss each of these bills in greater detail and explain the effect they will have on patients and healthcare providers alike. Image: Shawn Campbell

What do Microsoft, Intel, Google, Ebay and Procter & Gamble have in common? They are either led by, or were founded by, immigrants to the United States. In fact, Forbes recently reported that a whopping 40% of the largest US companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Let’s look at some other relevant data points: A large number of today’s very successful immigrants could not speak English well when they first arrived in the United States. They and their families needed document translation, bilingual teachers, social services, and a myriad other kinds of support to acclimate to their new culture and make strong contributions to the U.S. and the world. Daniel Griswold, director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, says it best. “Immigration is not undermining the American experiment; it is an integral part of it. We are a nation of immigrants. Successive waves of immigrants have kept our country demographically young, enriched our culture and added to our productive capacity as a nation, enhancing our influence in the world.” So, let’s keep the immigration doors open. We are a nation of immigrants; it has served us well for over 300 years and it is one of our secret weapons. Compare the U.S. with developed countries like Japan and most of the EU that are closed to immigrants. The benefits are clear and it’s one of the reasons I started my company in the USA! Image: lendingmemo.com

I am an immigrant to the United States and, like many immigrants today, I originally came on a temporary student visa, and was seduced by the beauty and vitality of this alluring land. I got married, became a citizen, and love both my new country as well as my country of origin, Mexico. My then wife was also an immigrant, hailing originally from French Canada. Our little family represents a melting pot of cultures, and our lives provide a window into the ways in which we have survived, thrived and contributed – both socially and economically. I am a business owner, active in my local community, and my organization provides jobs for others on a national as well as a global scale. I have three beautiful sons who have graduated from college and are embarking on productive lives and careers. Our boys are part of the millennial generation, younger adults who are just starting on their economically productive lives and making contributions to both Medicare and Social Security at far higher rates than they are taking. Both new and first-generation immigrants contribute much more to social and health programs such as Medicare than they take out. Why? One reason: immigrants tend to be younger on average than the overall US demographic, and they visit doctors and hospitals less often than older folks tend to. As younger working adults, they contribute to Social Security now, while their time to benefit from these funds themselves is far in the future. And according to a new report by the Partnership for the New American Economy, an immigration advocacy group, U.S. immigrants' net contribution to Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund was $183 billion between 1996 and 2011. For U.S.-born Americans, the net contribution was negative $69 billion. Per person, immigrants contributed $62 more to the trust fund than U.S.-born citizens, and claimed $172 less in benefits. My demographic (aging baby boomers), will need all the help we can get, since non-immigrants receive more than they contribute on average. Yes, when immigrants first arrive in this country, they have immediate needs like document translation, linguistic and interpretation services. And figuring out the customs and cultural expectations of a new country takes time, regardless of whether or not you have mastered the language. Support services, education, family and community help recent immigrants to assimilate, and soon they adapt, integrate, and go on to make positive cultural, social and economic contributions to society. As a United States citizen, I am forever grateful for the opportunities offered to me as well as to future generations of my family. And, as a son of my beautiful birth country, Mexico, I am able to love and appreciate this amazing locale in which generations of my family began their life journeys. I am a product of both countries, proud to be an immigrant, proud to be a citizen, and proud to watch my sons continue my legacy as they make their way in America. Image: Sohum

Desktop Publishing (DTP) Services are an important component of both print and digital translation. DTP refers to the creation and layout of documents using a personal computer as opposed to a commercial design/printing setup. DTP translation services are integrated during the translation process, and use specialized software to generate layouts and produce printed and digital materials. DTP first appeared in the early eighties. When the Apple LaserWriter printer and Aldus’ Pagemaker software debuted in 1985, desktop publishing took off since anyone with the technology and the software could suddenly create professional-looking printed pages, complete with graphics and different fonts. Today, DTP is an integral part of the translation process.  Through the use of DTP software, translation organizations can format and re-create foreign language page design/layouts both for print and Internet use, without compromising the message and feel of the original material.  DTP specialists work carefully to ensure that a culturally accurate and appropriate message is reflected through the use of graphics, fonts and design elements. Translating files into other languages can wreak all kinds of havoc on original layouts, graphics and formatting.  Photo captions, graphs, forms or other illustrations may be inadvertently repositioned, truncated or even lost altogether.  Because some languages take up more space than others when written, the ratio of text to white space can vary widely from language to language.  Bulleted lists, hyphenation, paragraph breaks, spacing and other graphic design elements may all be negatively affected in the transition from one language to another. One other aspect of DTP services is the culturally appropriate use of color and imagery. What is perfectly acceptable in one culture may be inadvertently offensive or have negative connotations in another. For this reason, it’s important to take cultural norms into account when translating page layouts for print or digital materials. Professional translation organizations will provide multilingual DTP services to ensure that each client’s translated files are completely aligned with the target language’s visual layout and design requirements.  Formatting, punctuation, hyphenation, captions, illustrations, graphic design elements – every detail must reproduced accurately when presented in the target language. DTP services should accurately reflect local cultural norms, provide accurate text-to-white-space ratios, and ensure that order forms, feedback forms, client contact forms and hyperlinks are fully functioning in the new target language. DTP services are used to create digital media such as web pages, downloadable information sheets, brochures and other PDF documents. Printed pieces such as flyers, handouts, brochures, signage, forms and other hard-copy materials are also formatted for printing using DTP software, design and layout services. Image: Sean MacEntee

Numerous studies show that communicating with patients in their own language results in better health outcomes, leading to healthier patients and lower medical costs for the patient and their insurers. When reflecting on why this is so, it occurs to me that it is just plain old common sense.  When patients, doctors, and medical staff have the ability to communicate, either through well-translated documents or the use of an interpreter, patients receive better medical care. They are able to communicate to their caregivers exactly what is wrong, and in turn doctors and nursing staff are able to explain the diagnosis and treatment clearly so that the patient understands and can follow through with medication and appropriate after-care. So why is it that health care professionals sometimes drag their feet regarding language services? Numerous providers see language services as a burden and an added cost for which they do not get reimbursed. In addition, in our current fee for service system, providers actually lose money if the patient consumes less or lower cost services! Talk about perverse incentives. In truth, provider reimbursement for language services occurs in nontraditional ways: patients come in for treatment earlier before medical situations reach emergency status; they are less likely to ignore discharge instructions because of lack of understanding, and they recover more quickly. All of which leads to lowered costs incurred by insurers and health care organizations. By translating signage, documentation and other media into languages other than English, health care organizations promote clear communication and good will while breaking down language barriers that lead to confusion for LEP patients. Furthermore, when patients know they have access to medical care that is presented in a language they understand, they are more apt to seek out needed care earlier, rather than waiting until a situation reaches emergency status. Now in it second year, the Affordable Care Act encourages better outcomes through proactive care and wellness initiatives. And in today’s new health care marketplace, providers must compete with each other for LEP patients, and to do so they must be able to offer information, services and documentation in languages understood by these groups. Insurance providers now have an added incentive for reaching out to the LEP patients in their own languages. LEP patients are a critical part of Obamacare, and they make up a large number of the newly insured. Again, common sense dictates that language services play a critical role in attracting LEP patients and keeping them happy and healthy.  Addressing language barriers in the health care industry should be part of every provider’s strategy moving forward.

Quality in the translation industry means much more than translating words or sentences correctly.  High quality translation is error-free, culturally sensitive, intuitive, accurate, meets reading level criteria, and addresses individual client and language requirements. “Quality” is subjective and therefore hard to quantify or measure, but from a client’s perspective, quality translation enhances communication, ensures understanding, builds brand awareness, attracts more customers, and helps to boost the bottom line. Translators can only do so much – it’s up to the client to provide source content that is well-written, mistake-free and easily understood in the source language. Translators are responsible for accurately translating words and sentences into the target language, not for rewriting original content that is poorly crafted, has grammatical errors or typos, lacks readability or plain doesn’t make sense. The reading level of the audience being translated for plays a critical part in the quality of the translation. Translators must be extremely sensitive to reading levels, and even when translating difficult medical terminology, complex financial data or legal documentation, they must maintain strict adherence to the reading level of their audience. Translators should be able to accommodate reading levels from elementary school through high school/college, choosing the proper wording, sentence structure and terminology that will best serve the end readers’ needs. Client style guides and glossaries further enhance the accuracy, consistency and high quality of translated documents.  Style guides let translators know the linguistic and stylistic preferences of the audience they are translating for, and glossaries provide important terms and their preferred translations for each client. A good translation organization will offer to create and maintain style guides and glossaries for each client, and work with them to keep these electronic documents current so that translators can utilize them whenever necessary. At Avantpage, we measure quality one satisfied client at a time. Avantpage’s commitment to quality encompasses consistency, accuracy, linguistic excellence, the knowledge and expertise of our translation teams, and the processes and procedures we follow to ensure exceptional service.  Providing quality to our clients is our number one priority, day in and day out.

Occasionally we like to use our blog to remind our clients and prospective clients about services they may not be aware of. Today, we’d like to make brief mention of Rapid Fire translation – a great option for smaller projects that come up quickly! Whether you need it “now,” “ASAP,” or even “five minutes ago,” Avantpage delivers! Our Rapid-Fire translation service gives you high quality, error-free, accurate translation within a three-hour turnaround time so please check with us for details for your specific language needs. In addition, you can submit your Rapid-Fire translation requests 24/7 via text message, voicemail or through our website. We deliver completed translations to you through text or email. Rapid-Fire translation is ideal for posting important notices or information on your website, creating promotional, educational or informational materials for special circumstances, and keeping your LEP clientele up to speed with critical changes, updates and revisions as they happen. Rapid-Fire translation offers: How does Rapid Fire translation work? Just contact us to set up a Rapid Fire Translation Solution for you. Our Rapid Fire response team is ready for any and all “emergency” translation requests. At Avantpage, we provide a wide variety of translation solutions to enable our clients to communicate more easily, accurately and quickly with their LEP customers. For more information on all our linguistic services, contact us today.

For Hmong refugees arriving in the United States forty years ago, life was confusing, stressful and complex. As political refugees from Laos, many Hmong established communities in California. The Hmongstory 40 project was created to trace the immigration experience of the Hmong in California, through artifacts, photos, tapestries, clothing, artwork, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. Hmong throughout California are encouraged to contribute their personal stories and loan artifacts to be displayed in this unique traveling exhibit. Hmongstory 40 will present Hmong customs, culture and life stories in a way that people can understand and relate to. The exhibit will go on full display first in Fresno during the Hmong New Year in December of 2015, and then it will travel to Sacramento and Merced, California, in 2016. Through the Hmongstory 40 exhibit, visitors will gain an understanding of how it felt to arrive in America, experience the hardships, challenges and triumphs of adapting to a foreign culture and eventually become settled in a new country. Many Hmong refugees arrived in California, found work, assimilated into American culture, raised families and became contributors to society. However, they kept their history and heritage alive through family stories, a deep commitment to the Hmong communities, and the celebration of their culture in their adopted country. Today there are about 62,000 Hmong living in California’s Central Valley, mainly in the Sacramento and Fresno areas. They are professionals, community leaders, teachers … but none has forgotten the stories of their families’ past. Those stories will be brought to life for others to experience through the Hmongstory 40 project. So far, exhibits in the Hmongstory 40 project include Life in Laos; Laos and the Secret War; Thailand Refugee Camps; California; Storytellers; Fine Arts; Refugee Mural and Fashion. For those wishing to contribute photos, stories or other memorabilia, they can visit the Hmongstory 40 website and follow instructions for submissions. At Avantpage, we frequently get requests to translate materials into Hmong, and we have access to a number of translators fluent in Hmong and English who can swiftly and accurately address these needs. Contact us today to learn more about our translation services.

Organizations that rely on translation services to communicate information about their products and services to diverse cultural and ethnic groups know that project management, workflow management and linguistic assets management are a large part of the translation process. Some work with Translation Management Software (TMS), and others do much of the work manually. Those who work with TMS have found that their multilingual projects are completed more quickly, with fewer errors, higher quality and greater control of projects from initiation to invoicing. Rather than sending, receiving, organizing and managing projects manually, TMS automates the translation workflow system and reduces the margins for error throughout the process. Using a software system designed for translation management takes the guesswork out of the translation process and ensures that projects are completed on time, that workflow is automated from start to finish, and that all people involved in a project have the same access to resources needed throughout the project’s completion cycle. Once a translation project is decided upon, TMS can gather and select appropriate source files and content, batch them, and have them ready for the next steps immediately. All translation team members have access to the same software platform in real time, enabling them to work concurrently, see changes as they happen and monitor quality control every step of the way. TMS is able to locate and access an organization’s specific glossaries, style guides and translation memory through secure cloud-based storage. Translators, in-house reviewers and project managers can access these resources for specific projects instantly through TMS. Another big plus: using TMS ensures that the latest versions of translated files are automatically renamed, filed and delivered to the Cloud, ready to be exported when needed. Avantpage uses AvantFlow 2.0, powered by XTRF, which is an integrated translation management system, for all client projects. AvantFlow 2.0 is a proprietary system developed for Avantpage to give clients a better way to automatically manage every aspect of their projects from beginning to end. AvantFlow 2.0 provides clients with an easy-to-use customized dashboard portal that allows them to automatically do everything from tracking projects to paying invoices. From Avantpage’s perspective, this system frees project managers from manually creating quotes, emails or POs, ensures 100% accuracy, and allows PMs increased personal one-on-one time with clients. As a result, there is greater understanding of client needs, less repetition of tasks, and quicker completion of projects, coupled with greater translation accuracy and overall efficiency.

Of the many different issues facing businesses today, one of the most fluid is how the changing demographics of the limited English proficiency (LEP) population impacts the need for language services in the workplace. A recent high-profile news story served to highlight the importance of providing quality translation for immigrant and LEP workers. Following an expose in the New York Times of the exploitation of manicurists throughout the state, Governor Mario Cuomo governor ordered nail salons to post worker health and safety information in six languages. “Salons will be required to publicly post signs that inform workers of their rights, including the fact that it is illegal to work without wages or to pay money for a job — a common practice in the nail salon industry, according to workers and owners. The signs will be in half a dozen languages, including those most spoken in the industry — Korean, Chinese and Spanish,” reports the Times. Workers who are at a disadvantage because of their limited English language proficiency isn’t a new issue for employers -- and it’s a widespread issue to boot. A 2014 study by the Brookings Institution revealed that more than 55,000 people of working age in the Kansas City area lack the necessary English language skills to find, keep, and advance in jobs that would lead to higher earnings. “English proficiency is the most essential means of opening doors to economic opportunity for immigrant workers in the United States,” said Brookings researcher Jill Wilson tells the Kansas City Star. “Yet access to acquiring these skills is persistently limited by a lack of resources and attention.” Researchers say employer-funded education programs and training would go a long way toward helping provide better opportunities to a demographic that’s expected to increase exponentially in the coming years. Across the country in El Paso, Texas, the effects of LEP workers on the local economy are largely the same. “Almost 30 percent of El Paso's working-age population lacks proficiency in English — the second largest percentage among 89 large metro areas in the United States,” notes the El Paso Times. “The economy can be hurt by having large numbers of workers with limited English skills because those workers tend to have lower paying jobs, which means they spend less and that also lowers tax revenues.” The U.S. federal government regularly monitors the LEP demographic through studies and uses the data to work with federal and local agencies across the country to improve the quality of life for limited English proficient individuals everywhere. The Migration Policy Institute used the data to assemble a revealing report that demonstrates how the LEP population is distributed throughout the country. Among its findings: Bilingualism has a long history in the U.S. and, in some cases, non-English languages dominated entire communities for decades. Some towns, like Beaverton, OR, embrace their residents’ duality of language. In January, the city recently adopted the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan to help Beaverton’s strategies for "adopting and implanting a language access policy" and "creating a centralized city budget live for contracting professional translation and interpretation services." "People have a right to access resources because they are a member of our community, despite barriers such as language," said Alexis Ball, the city's Equity Outreach Coordinator told Oregon Live. The city expects the plan will lead to a more diverse workplace and better opportunities for its LEP demographic. "There's been interest and will; I don't think there's been a lot of capacity to put in place a plan. We can't just wish that we get more diverse staff," Ball says. "We have to plan for it." The takeaway message from these studies and news stories are that, while federal, state, and local government agencies are taking steps to help the nation’s LEP population work to their fullest potential, there are also many things companies and business owners can do to help. Providing training materials and other documentation in languages that target the specific LEP worker demographic in its area is the first step in improving the lives of limited English proficient workers and, ultimately, local economies. To follow interesting discussions around these issues and learn more about how language services can benefit LEP populations, join the LEP Translation group on LinkedIn today.

In 2008 native Cambodian Avantpage linguist Channdara Sos was proud to be City University of Seattle’s Distinguished Student Speaker for Commencement. Channdara “Dara” Sos is one of Avantpage’s many dedicated translators, and we caught up with him in between projects to ask him a few questions about his life and work. Originally from Cambodia, Dara is fluent in Khmer and English, and he provides translation services for many of our English-Khmer projects. Dara is from the Kandal Province in Cambodia, where he began studying English in the 7^th grade. His home and school were located in a rural area with no electricity, and Dara vividly remembers studying English at night by candlelight, after completion of his other schoolwork. Eventually, Dara moved on to more advanced English tutelage, and embraced the language, literature and vocabulary. He appreciates Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet is a favorite) and enjoys contemporary novels and nonfiction as well. Dara also loves Khmer literature, and enjoys creative writing in both Khmer and English. Dara has lived in America for almost ten years, and upon arrival in 2005, he settled in Seattle, Washington, to complete his university work. He was drawn to Seattle because of its large and vibrant Cambodian community, and because there were people from his hometown in Cambodia living there. Dara attended City University in Bellevue WA, and in 2008 was the University’s Distinguished Student Speaker for Commencement. He holds a Masters of Business Administration: Finance from City University, a B.S., Computer Science: Database Programming from the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and a Master Certificate in Six Sigma from Villanova University Online, Tampa, Florida. Dara loves his adopted hometown of Seattle, and particularly enjoys the moderate weather, natural beauty and myriad outdoor activities as well as the down-to-earth friendliness of his fellow Seattleites. An avid hiker and camper, Dara also plays soccer and volleyball in his free time. He and his wife, Tithvorlak "Vorlak" Mok, also from Cambodia, see children in their future. Dara is also thrilled to have his brother living here as well. Most importantly, Dara is very active in Seattle’s Cambodian community, and he volunteers as a translator and interpreter whenever he can. “A lot of elderly Cambodians here are immigrants and refugees who have very limited English. Helping them to function more easily and confidently in American society through my linguistic skills is very fulfilling to me,” he commented. Dara has volunteered for a large number of Cambodian relief and support organizations, among them the Cambodian Cultural Alliances of Washington (CCAW), Cambodian American Support Network (CASNET), United Cambodian Development Association (UCDA), Asian American Dragon Boat Association (AADBA), Cambodian Women Health Organization (CWHO), Cambodian Assistance Foundation (CAF), Khmer Unity for Cambodia (KUC), American Red Cross Seattle (ARC), and Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Dara thrives within a fast-paced work environment, and enjoys blending technology, linguistics and communication skills as a translator for Avantpage. He has previously worked for Amazon, Inc., as a Program Manager and Analyst and at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as a Financial Analyst. Dara holds WA DSHS certification in both translation and interpretation, and it was through the Washington State DSHS website that Lori Ann Reinhall, then Avantpage’s Vendor Manager, first connected with him as a candidate for Avantpage. As a translator, Dara most enjoys the fact that the work he does contributes positively to society, providing new opportunities for communication and understanding.

English Language Learners (ELL) have specific needs from the education system. For ELL students to have the same access to education that English-speaking students have, translation services must be employed. Beyond the federal regulations demanding translated educational materials, translation for English Language Learners has many benefits. Students engage more fully with their education if they are able to study in their native languages, and the parents of ELL students also become more engaged with their students' education when given documentation in their native language. There are federal regulations in place to protect English Language Learners and their parents. These federal regulations increase the ability of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students and parents to engage in the education system. The regulations require schools and school districts to communicate with LEP families in languages they understand, and that the following documents and information be translated into those languages. Federal regulations also necessitate that your school or district make interpreters or bilingual staff available for parent-teacher conferences, meetings discussing special education, and any other meetings in which parents or students are involved. For schools and school districts nationwide, it’s time to assess language services, identify shortcomings and potential pitfalls, and shore up English Language Learner programs. Creating a Language Access Plan can help ensure your LEP students can effectively engage with their education, and that their parents can offer meaningful support as they do so. To begin creating a Language Access Plan, ask yourself and your team the following questions: These questions will help you start to develop a Language Access Plan that allows for meaningful parent and student education. As an educator, it makes sense for you to call on experts for advice and guidance. At Avantpage, we specialize in providing language services, Title III Compliance materials, translated documents and multimedia, assessments and more to the education market. We can help you create a Language Access Plan and translate your documents in an effective, meaningful way. Give us a call at (530) 750-2040 or request a free quote today.