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Public transit is a major component of urban life. On any given weekday in the United States, city dwellers will board buses, light rails, subways, and other forms of public transportation around 34 million times, according to data from the American Public Transportation Association. These services allow millions of US residents to travel to and from their jobs, schools, hospitals, and anywhere else they need to go about their day-to-day lives. At the same time, public transit systems have also historically failed to serve all members of their communities equally, leaving some groups — for example, people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and disabilities — with limited access to these vital resources. As a result, conversations surrounding diversity and equity in public transit are becoming an increasingly more important part of social justice efforts. The population of individuals with LEP in the US has increased significantly in recent decades. Although this growth is particularly evident in regions with strong public transportation networks like the New York City metropolitan area and greater Chicago, cities without robust public transportation networks are seeing significant growth as well. Plus, research from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority found that individuals with LEP are about three times as likely to rely on the bus than individuals who speak English fluently. Likewise, New Yorkers with disabilities have been found to be more likely to use the bus than their counterparts (and they were less likely to use the city’s famous subway system — probably due to the fact that less than a third of the city’s subway systems are wheelchair accessible). Just as other sectors must evolve to provide for the growing population of individuals with LEP, so too must public transit — factoring populations with LEP into this evolution should be at the forefront of any effort to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in public transit. To create a truly equitable and diverse approach to developing and maintaining public transportation systems, it is essential that communities with LEP and people with disabilities are meaningfully engaged in the planning, design, and operation of these systems.
Public involvement is an essential component of transportation planning and decision-making. In developing a strategy for public transportation accessibility, it’s particularly important to center diverse voices, to ensure that you’re serving all members of the community. Engaging members of the public provides a way for communities to have a say in public transit projects. This in turn enables these efforts to have a meaningful and positive impact on their lives — it also ensures that the needs and concerns of all stakeholders are taken into account. Language barriers can make it difficult for LEP individuals to access information or participate in meetings, while physical barriers such as inaccessible meeting locations or a lack of accommodations for people with sensory impairments can prevent people with disabilities from participating fully. Equitable access to public involvement opportunities is particularly important for people who come from low-income backgrounds, people of color and people with LEP, as these people tend to be more reliant on public transit than their counterparts. As a result, it’s especially important to communicate with these folks and hear their opinions on any efforts to improve public transit accessibility. There are a number of best practices that can help transportation agencies effectively engage with LEP and people with disabilities. These include: For example, in 2021, when New York City’s subway system began offering free rides to passengers who frequently used contactless payment methods, the city translated its messaging on this initiative into Haitian Creole, Spanish, Russian, and a handful of other languages spoken widely. Such efforts can go a long way toward engaging LEP communities, especially when done in conjunction with the other practices above.
Effective community engagement requires an understanding of the cultural context in which it takes place. This is particularly important when working with communities that have LEP or disabilities, as these groups may have unique barriers to participation that need to be addressed. To engage individuals with LEP, it is critical that any outreach strategy focuses on culturally competent messaging that speaks to them in their language and reflects their cultural values. Likewise, efforts to engage people with disabilities should also use messaging that empathizes with them and makes them feel both welcome and safe on public transit. While linguistic considerations are certainly important for individuals with LEP, it’s also important to work with community-based organizations that can help transportation agencies communicate effectively with communities that have lower levels of English proficiency. Messaging shouldn’t be a word-for-word translation of English documents, but it should also take cultural contexts into consideration — this is the best way to ensure authentic community engagement.
Advancing diversity and equity in public transit requires meaningful public involvement, particularly for communities with LEP and disabilities. By prioritizing the needs and concerns of these communities, we can create more inclusive and equitable public transit systems that benefit everyone. Avantpage has worked closely with state departments of transportation, transportation commissions, and several other organizations at the forefront of innovative transportation. We are proud to offer translation, interpreting, and other cultural mediation services for projects to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in public transit — for more information about our services, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040

There have been a handful of significant developments to improve the accessibility of low- or no-cost health insurance over the last 15 years or so. However, many qualifying individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) aren’t aware that they can receive these benefits. Studies have shown that individuals with LEP have not taken advantage of improvements to Medicaid accessibility as much as their English-speaking counterparts have. This is where culturally competent outreach can make a difference. Culturally competent outreach refers to any sort of outreach strategy that accounts for the cultural context of its target demographic. For individuals with LEP, this doesn’t just mean speaking to them in their language, but also understanding and remaining sensitive to their cultural background. By emphasizing cultural competence, state-based health plans can connect with LEP individuals and inform them about whether they qualify for Medicaid. It’s an essential part of ensuring that LEP individuals have proper access to the health services they need to thrive. Although individuals with LEP make up a comparatively large proportion of Medicaid recipients, there are still thousands of individuals with LEP who are paying more than they need to for their healthcare — or worse, going uninsured. As state-based health providers continue to work toward reducing coverage gaps for eligible individuals with LEP, it’s clear that culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach is key to making healthcare more accessible. Here’s what state-based health plans can do to develop a culturally competent outreach strategy for individuals with limited English proficiency to help close coverage gaps. Of course, one of the most important aspects of any outreach strategy is making sure that you’re communicating with people in the language they speak. This is doubly important when targeting individuals who have LEP. Developing a culturally competent outreach strategy for these populations should start with research on which non-English languages are spoken widely among individuals with LEP in the state. This information will help guide efforts to connect with and engage communities where English isn’t the primary language. Most US residents with LEP speak Spanish as their primary language, according to research from the Brookings Institute. The most prominent languages among communities with LEP can vary significantly from zip code to zip code, so it’s important to do thorough research and identify all of the languages that are prominent in a given area. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that providers translate vital written documents into any language spoken by 1,000 (or 5%, depending on the size of a given population) or more individuals with LEP in a certain population. This is also a good outreach strategy for state-based health plans. Upon identifying these target languages, more research into local language access plans and mandates is also an important step. While federal mandates like the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act include language access provisions for state Medicaid agencies, it’s important to know what’s also required in each state. Some states — like New York, for example — have their own language access policies that state agencies must adhere to. After conducting a thorough review of the language access plans and policies is to commission translations of written documents and texts into the target language (or languages). Documents that will need translation include — but are not limited to — the following: These written documents will likely be an individual’s first impression of the health plan, making it crucial that individuals with LEP can understand them easily. And, in the case that they qualify, it’s also important that they understand how to actually enroll in the plan and exactly what that plan covers. While written documents are an integral component of any outreach strategy, some folks may prefer to talk to a human being, rather than scroll through a website or flip through an informational pamphlet. Or there might be information they just can’t find in writing as easily as they could by chatting with somebody. As such, it’s important to staff phone hotlines and offices with highly qualified bilingual workers who can communicate with individuals who prefer to speak in a language other than English. Offering separate phone lines for different languages is one way to improve accessibility for those who don’t speak English. Interpreters are also key here — they serve as a sort of medium between the insurance provider and the patient, seamlessly switching between each party’s preferred language. Over-the-phone, video remote, and in-person interpreting services are an important part of connecting with individuals who have LEP. State agencies must also be sure to closely research interpreting agencies to make sure they offer services in the most in-demand languages. While the right language is a crucial part of reaching out to and offering culturally competent care to individuals with LEP, it’s also important to make sure your efforts are sensitive to their cultural background. Translation and interpreting ensure that prospective Medicaid insureds can understand the information, but they must also be presented in a way that resonates with an individual’s cultural values. Moreover, as intertwined as culture and language are, they’re still two distinct entities. For instance, a monolingual French speaker from Quebec may be more responsive to different strategies than one from Senegal, and vice versa. Taking into account the communication strategies and acceptable topics that vary from culture to culture is an important part of achieving true cultural competence. Consult with experts on the target culture. Partnering with community organizations and utilizing local resources can be an effective way to reach LEP individuals and provide them with information about Medicaid eligibility and enrollment. These organizations may have connections and relationships with LEP communities that can be leveraged to facilitate outreach and communication. Engaging outreach campaigns have been shown to boost Medicaid enrollment and improve health outcomes for those most in need. By developing outreach strategies that emphasize cultural competence, state-based health plans can help close Medicaid coverage gaps among individuals with LEP. Avantpage strongly emphasizes accessibility in our website localization, content translation, and interpreting services. If you need help getting started, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

To improve equity, one step your organization can take is to provide or expand language access for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals and communities. Language access may present itself in many ways: translated website or content, interpreters at healthcare appointments, language assistance during election time, and more. We’ve provided six essential ways to improve equity through language access for organizations looking to provide or expand on their language access services. Start by figuring out a process to identify, track, and report on Limited English Proficient (LEP) audiences across your organization. Having robust and accurate data will enable you to inform language access queries, leading to support for the LEP community. It’s important to track this data at micro-local and/or at the program level, because languages might be more prominent in specific areas than what’s prominent at state or even county levels. Some ways to collect LEP audience information include: LEP audience data helps organizations plan for language access support and implement initiatives, leading to a better understanding and response to changing demographics and needs. Language access shouldn’t be an afterthought—it’s much easier, more efficient, and less costly to plan ahead. Suppose you’re considering localizing your website into other languages. In this case, you’ll want to make sure that your website is reviewed for internationalization, meaning that it can handle language nuances (e.g., Chinese characters require double-byte codes). Identifying and fixing language requirements before you’re ready to localize your website will save money and time in development costs and prevent delays in launching localized sites. In addition, numerous tools can help improve equity while saving time and money on translation costs for content. For example, preparing a terminology database with technology like AvantMemory before content is translated provides content consistency, reduces costs, and decreases time-to-market. In addition, creating content using plain language can benefit both the audience by making content easier to understand and an organization by reducing translation costs. While you can still use these tools after content is developed, you get the most out of them early on in the process. Consider proactively integrating funds, resources, and planning for language access into all organizational programs early on. A language access plan is a policy describing how an organization will provide language services to support LEP individuals and improve equity. The content of a language access plan varies since there’s not a standard template; however, it generally includes topics such as data about the LEP population, services offered, policies and procedures, training, budgets, and more. Federal regulations require a language access plan for schools and government agencies. Even if a plan isn’t required, it can help an organization focus and put a policy around language services to ensure you’re providing the best possible services. An LSP who works with government agencies and educational institutions should be quite familiar with language access plans and be able to provide some guidance. An LSP may also know the area, what other organizations are doing, and what’s working. Reach out to your LSP to see how they can help. Establish accountability measures that include equity indicators across all levels, both for the LEP community and internally, to ensure that you can provide adequate staff to support your language initiatives. These measures can be built into a language access plan. Here are some examples of the kinds of measures you can put in place: Be resourceful, and learn more about other organizations to gain insights, information, and ideas for strategies. Create community hubs, partner with interagency groups for ideas and resources, and use overarching bodies that already have language access in implementation. For example, digital.gov has a multilingual community as well as multiple resources around translations. In addition, many grants are available—look for ones that promote equity in Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Also, contact your local government to see what resources may be available. Finally, your LSP should be a great resource, given that they see many organizations and have ideas about where to go for help. Like community hubs, partner organizations that work with LEP individuals and communities are key to high quality and responsiveness language access. Organizations should find and partner with local communities, non-profits, and organizations to target LEP communities in their outreach. These organizations have cultural and linguistic skills and the connections to ensure leveraged outreach. Expanding language access helps improve equity for LEP individuals and communities. Organizations can improve through services using the tips in this blog post. We localize websites, translate content, provide interpreter services, and more. If you need help getting started, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

Website accessibility is a way to promote access on your website for those with disabilities. Improving a website’s accessibility benefits everyone—a better structure and experience means greater satisfaction and connection to your brand. You can implement coding, design, and content items to make your website accessible. In 2008, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) created Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to share common standards for website accessibility. The guidelines are organized around these four principles: perceive, operate, understand, and interact with the web.  Numerous online tools (software programs or online services) are available to test out your website to see how it meets accessibility guidelines. W3C has an extensive list of online tools that you can filter to find one that meets your needs. Using one of these tools is a good starting point to get an idea of the current state of your website’s accessibility. In this blog, we’ll look at ways that you can make your website accessible by making it more understandable through plain language, functional with webpage accessibility, and more accessible to everyone by professional translations. To learn more about ways to make your website more accessible via perception, operable or robust, read how a California health plan provider achieved linguistic and accessibility compliance. Plain language is defined by the Plain Writing Act of 2010 as: Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. The government developed plain language as a guide to help save federal agencies time and money while better serving Americans. Plain language benefits both the audience (makes content easier to understand and navigate through) and the writers (shorter authoring time and enables people to take action more quickly). In addition, the concise, active tense style of writing for plain language can help facilitate an easier start for translations. Here are some recommendations for writing in plain language: For more information, the plainlanguage.gov website provides many resources, including guidelines, training, and more.  The WCAG guidelines include many items related to the technical aspects of accessibility, such as making the site navigable by keyboards, elements readable by screen readers, and much more. In regards to language accessibility and understanding, you can make changes to the content and the content’s structure to help the user with website access.  Here are some recommendations for improving the user experience and structure: When it comes time to translating your website content, there’s no substitute for a professional translation company. Professional linguists understand the language’s culture and will choose words that are the best fit given the context. Linguists also have experience, certifications, and knowledge of translation tools. Here are some recommendations for making your website accessible for translated content: Making a website accessible benefits everyone—not just those with disabilities or limited English proficiency. For example, all visitors can benefit by having an easily navigable website with concise, easy-to-read content. At Avantpage, we help our clients make their content accessible and provide language services for LEP individuals. We offer an accessibility service that reports our findings for our clients to implement or we can provide a full service of reporting and implementation. We also localization website content into over 150 languages. For more information, email us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

Telehealth services have become a convenient way for patients and healthcare providers to address health issues. And while telehealth and telemedicine are excellent ways to receive care for many people, research shows that telehealth services aren’t always accessible for individuals with disabilities. This includes not just the telehealth appointment itself but also the steps of the patient journey leading up to the appointment (e.g., finding a doctor, filling out forms, etc.) and the post-appointment (e.g., getting a prescription, scheduling follow-up tests, reading materials, etc.). While many different types of disabilities exist (e.g., hearing, visual, cognitive, motor and dexterity, and speech), we’ll focus on hearing and visual disabilities for this blog. A survey by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) found that 70% of 488 adults in the U.S. who are blind, have low vision or are deafblind tried to use telemedicine, but 57% had problems accessing the platform. In addition, a research report by the AFB showed that most of the material provided by healthcare providers is not accessible to them. This results in difficulties with prescription labels, pre-surgery instructions, and other types of materials. “We need accessible healthcare mobile apps and websites. We need technology to represent graphical information in a format we can understand.” —Congenitally VI White male, aged 45 to 54 years, with no additional disabilities (p.55 Flatten Accessibility Report) Yet healthcare providers can take steps to make their services more accessible for individuals. We’ll look at what should be reviewed and made accessible along the patient journey. Finding a physician and initiating an appointment are the first few steps in the patient journey. In general, people turn online to do this research. Think about all the steps a patient must take do before a telehealth visit. How can you make those steps more accessible? For example: The telehealth visit should be viewed from the patients’ perspective and also from an internal technical perspective. How can your organization make its telehealth services more accessible during the appointment? The patient needs to receive accessible log-in instructions, troubleshooting information, contact information for technical help, and information on how to cancel or reschedule. Your organization’s IT team should implement the following technical features to ensure the telehealth visit is accessible for users who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, or are hard-of-hearing. This will ensure the patient is able to connect into their telehealth appointment. If you would like help assessing these areas, Avantpage is happy to find a solution to match your budget and timeline. Request a quote today. The patient experience doesn’t end with the telehealth appointment. There might be instructions, follow-up appointments to schedule, tests to schedule, care instructions, updates in patient portals, and more. While the post-visit process varies for each individual, the same concepts that we mentioned earlier also apply here. Healthcare providers can greatly improve the patient journey by providing accessible materials and online experience. These materials should provide the best accessibility and user experience. We provide a full range of services for healthcare providers to accommodate those with disabilities. We can review your current client-facing content for accessibility and work together with you to make changes to websites, digital content, and other types of content along the patient journey. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help healthcare providers accommodate their patients with disabilities and improve their patient journeys, and contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

A sign language interpreter communicates between people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and those who have hearing. A sign language interpreter may be useful or required in many different settings, including healthcare, education, court, an office or other situations. The best way to find a qualified interpreter is to work with a professional interpreting service who will ensure all the needed requirements to meet regulatory compliance as well as meaningful language access.   If you’re going to learn how to work with a sign language interpreter for the first time, or if it’s been a while since you’ve worked with an interpreter, you may not know what to expect. We’ve put together the following list of tips so you can become familiar with the process and be prepared before and during the interaction.   Before the interpretation session, here are some things to know.    Here are some tips on working with an in-person sign language interpreter in a classroom or large group setting.  Here are some tips for how to work with an interpreter during the session.   Many situations require a sign language interpreter. Being prepared before and during the interaction should lead to a more successful outcome for everyone.   We provide interpretation services for all types of industries, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about how the process work. To learn more, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040. Working with Sign Language Interpreters  Tips for working with Sign Language Interpreters  10 Tips for Using a Sign Language Interpreter 

Elections office websites offer voters a wealth of information when it comes to understanding how to vote. The voting process for an English speaker is a different experience than for someone who’s a limited English proficient (LEP) speaker. The language difference can create barriers and cause people to give up without voting, leading to underrepresentation by LEP communities. In addition, while the Voting Rights Act requires language assistance to LEP individuals, “many voters may be unaware that they have a right to be assisted in casting a ballot and to bilingual election materials in many jurisdictions.” If you’re going to invest in translating elections office materials, you’ll want to maximize the outreach of these materials. Part of the outreach is to make LEP communities aware of what you provide, starting with the elections website. In addition, the language access options must be super clear, so when an LEP individual goes to your website, that person can quickly see the content in their preferred language. This will contribute to a better investment for your funds and improve the voting journey for LEP individuals. A website is oftentimes the first place someone will go to get information. You need to translate and localize your website to reach LEP audiences. Here are some things to consider for your translation project. Ideally, you’d translate your entire elections office website. However, if you have a limited budget or time constraints, that may not be feasible. If you aren’t ready to translate your entire website, work with your LSP to determine the most vital pages and create a plan for the other pages. Languages morph and evolve over time, leading to locale-specific variations of a language. For example, Hmong communities in California and Minnesota may generally use the core language, but variations will exist between the two variations. Learn more about language variations. Machine translation is suitable for some types of content, such as content that isn’t critical or internal content, or for getting a general idea about something for a quick turnaround. However, you need a professional language service provider to provide the highest quality translations for something as critical as elections information. Election content can be tricky enough for an English speaker to understand, let alone someone who’s not proficient in English. You need to have a complete translation process that involves humans to translate election content. Some of the other reasons why it’s not a good idea to use Google Translate for elections office materials include: You can add some simple things to your elections office website to make language options clear and obvious for a visitor. You want your visitors to know that there are language options, so you should have something that shows the options, whether it’s a dropdown selection or an entry button. Include a language option at the top of your webpage. It could look something like this: It should be at the top of the page, because if a visitor doesn’t see it right away, that person may not know to scroll to look for it. For example, including all the languages in a footer is not a good option as people don’t tend to search for information like that in a footer, so it makes it hard to find. In your language option, add a universal symbol (like a globe) to show that other languages are available. Also, include a dropdown someone can select the language that fits that person’s needs. You don’t want to use English words like “translate” to show that other languages are available. For the translated site language options, use the translated language name and not the English version. For example, use “Română” instead of “Romanian.” The English version of this language is “Romanian,” but those who speak Romanian use “Română.” Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires that counties make election materials available to LEP individuals, so you want to make your target audiences know that you have information in different languages and that they have the right to these materials. Here are some ways to do that. Elections offices can improve voter turnout and the voting journey by providing website translations and outreach to the LEP community. We have extensive experience in election translations and would love to help you with any aspect of the process. Learn more about our experience, and feel free to contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

Translation and language services drive communication and business in the global marketplace and business world. The translation services industry was valued at over 39 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach over 46 billion by 2028. Despite the industry’s importance, you may have some preconceived notions about it if you haven’t done any or very little work with translations before. This leaves clients with knowledge gaps, leading to misunderstandings and uncertainty. The language service provider (LSP) should ensure everything is clear, and the client feels comfortable asking any questions they might have. In this blog, we’ll address 10 common misconceptions about translation. Here are basic definitions: Learn more about the differences between translators and interpreters. As we just described, a translator is about written communication, whereas an interpreter is about verbal communication. These two styles are very different, just as they are for all of us. Also, every individual has expertise, so a Spanish interpreter in the healthcare industry may not have the expertise to interpret in a legal setting. And marketing content requires a different type of translator than a technical manual. So many specializations exist, and a language expert can’t do everything.
Just because someone is a native speaker of a language doesn’t mean that they have the skills to be a linguist. Linguists are specially trained professionals with acutely developed skills. This comes by way of certifications, continuing education credits, professional development, learning, formal education, and professional memberships to hold everyone accountable to high levels of professional standards and code of ethics. Having a bilingual employee do translation work is not a sufficient way to deliver translation projects since: Learn more about the hidden costs of using bilingual employees for translation. “I need a sign language interpreter” is too vague to provide any meaning. A sign language interpreter is not just one type of interpreter. Between 138 and 300 different sign languages are used worldwide. In the US, the most common types are American Sign Language (ASL), Signed Exact, and Tactile. While many people who are deaf do know sign language, there are also many who know different varieties or home signs, or who have different levels of proficiency in a sign language.   In order to provide meaningful access, certain questions need to be asked to find the best suited interpreter match. Learn more about deaf or hard-of-hearing interpreter requirements. You may get a directive to “translate this into Spanish.” Yet Spanish isn’t a universal language; it’s the same idea as “needing a sign language interpreter.” So while the target language may sound simple—Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic or Chinese—many languages are regionally targeted. Some translations, especially in the US, need to use Universal Spanish to target multiple varieties and most common Spanish understandings. For regional language varieties, such as smaller, established communities, a Community reviewer might be necessary. A Community reviewer can help with these specialized language variations. Another misconception about languages is if a child is willing to interpret for a parent or guardian, and the adult says it’s OK, then it’s OK. This isn’t a good idea for several reasons: Using an experienced interpreter is the best way to go—not have a child do the work. If you received multiple bids on an RFP, know that the lowest bid charges aren’t necessarily the only charges you may incur. Hidden fees may pop up or the quality is poor, which results in more time to manage the project, re-do the work or worst case—errors go unnoticed and turn into a liability or lawsuit. In addition, over time, these costs and more might actually add up to a higher price than the best-value bids. Some agencies that appear to cost more outright might have technologies for built-in cost savings (e.g., re-using already translated terms, project management tools) that enable you to save money over time. While the most obvious thing that an LSP does is provide translation and interpreting, they do so much more, such as: Depending on the type of organization, you may be eligible for additional funding for language services. Sometimes grants are available that help fund language services. Find them and apply to grow your language access programs. For example, grants that promote equity in Social Determinants of Health among immigrant populations, improve student learning, and others are available. Having misconceptions about the translation industry is understandable, especially if you’re new to working with it. We’re here to help answer any of your questions. For more information, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040. Let us help you provide the best language services.

or individuals who are limited English proficient (LEP) or Deaf/hard-of-hearing  and need to participate in a court hearing, they have the right to an interpreter in federal, state, and local courts. An interpreter is required to protect one’s basic constitutional rights by providing equal language access. A legal interpreter plays an extremely important role in the court process, as the interpreter is the conduit between the individual and the English speakers. An interpreter must interpret the content without editing, summarizing, deleting or otherwise modifying the content. They must be impartial and able to serve the judicial process as required. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the legal interpreter qualifications and requirements used in the legal system. The federal government recognizes three types of legal interpreters. A federally certified interpreter has passed the Administrative Office certification exam. These exams are only available for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters. The local federal court will determine if an interpreter is professionally qualified or has the language skills for other languages. This designation is for all languages except Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole. A professionally qualified interpreter meets the criteria for this designation. The criteria consider areas like tests and assessments, memberships, and other certifications. A language skilled / ad hoc interpreter demonstrates the ability to interpret court proceedings per the court’s satisfaction but isn’t a professionally qualified interpreter. While using a language skilled / ad hoc interpreter is not always appropriate, it may be acceptable in some cases. Each state has its own legal interpreter requirements. As an example, the state of California recognizes two types of interpreters: Review language access programs by state. Local and national organizations, such as National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) may provide other labels for legal interpreters such as “conditionally approved” or “qualified.” These terms can vary a bit, but they essentially mean individuals pre-vetted by organizations, agencies, departments or otherwise based on references, skills assessments, previous work history, an association with industry organizations, and more. While hundreds of sign languages exist, American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the most common types in the U.S. Currently, there’s a shortage of ASL interpreters, and some certifications can’t be tested for anymore. Nationally recognized certifications include: Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART)
CART, also known as real-time captioning, is a method of transcribing spoken language and sounds. The transcription is displayed on computers, mobile devices or other screens. Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing might prefer this method. LEP individuals may also choose this method over interpreting for various reasons. CART requires reading, and it’s often a one-way communication, although some versions can incorporate two-way communication. Specialists who provide CART services can hold certifications from the Association for Court Reporters and Captioners.

Organizations that Support Interpreters and Translators
Organizations that control assessments, codes of ethics, codes of professional conduct, and more to evaluate interpreter involvement include:
Legal interpreters have a very important job communicating between LEP, deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. Legal interpreting is a highly specialized form of interpreting that not just anyone can do. As such, courts may require certain qualifications or a judge may inquire about qualifications, and may come up when a court case is challenged due to the interpretation, such as appeals on verdicts called into question due to the provided interpretation. We provide remote and in-person interpretation services for the legal industry. We partner with the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, and we’ve worked with numerous state Superior Courts as well as Judicial Councils. To learn more, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.

For this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month we wanted to celebrate the contributions and achievements of those who play such a large part in our U.S. identity. We decided to talk with Avantpage CEO & founder, Luis Miguel, a bit about Hispanic Heritage Month, his own background, and a few of the many ways these individuals have and continue to play such a big part of the U.S. In some ways I am a typical immigrant to the US, coming from Mexico attracted by the American Dream and looking for opportunity and a better life.  Yet my ancestors on both sides emigrated to Mexico from Lebanon in the 1920s, again looking for opportunity and a better life. And once in Mexico in the 1930s, both my paternal and maternal grandparents migrated from Teziutlan, Puebla, a small town to the grand metropolis, Mexico City.  So, I come from a family of immigrants with middle eastern roots, born and raised in Mexico, a country with a complex mixture of indigenous and Spanish peoples creating a pluralistic and rich culture.  The United States also has a rich and complex history and Spain, the Viceroyalty of New Spain and Mexico have prominent parts in that history. A huge part of the South and Western U.S. belonged to the Viceroyalty of New Spain, a Spanish colony, until 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain and became an internationally recognized new country. At that time, Mexico included modern day California, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Texas among others.  Over the next 50 years the U.S. annexed about 50% of Mexico’s territory, in the process leaving millions of Mexican citizens as U.S. citizens. In addition, the border between both countries has always been very porous, with millions of people moving back and forth to this day.  Hispanic heritage month reminds me of this rich cultural, economic and ethnic mix of both countries, something that the dominant European immigrant groups suppressed for many years until very recently. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S., and several of the old Mexico states, like California and Texas, will soon have more Hispanics than any other ethnic group.  As I mentioned before, I was born and raised in Mexico. It is where most of my family still resides, and I have a deep love and respect for the country.  Since English to Spanish is about 50% of our translation work at Avantpage and we were getting most translations from Argentina [based linguists], in 2008 I decided to open an office in Mexico City to do our Spanish translation work. The translation industry in Mexico at the time was 100% focused on the internal market and had low levels of technology and modern business practices.  So I saw the opportunity to create a new translation agency niche in Mexico, modeled after the agencies in Argentina, that served the Spanish needs of the U.S. market. This provided new opportunities for work to both project managers and translators in Mexico.  So much substance and complexity! Not only do we have people from many Mexico regions, but also from many other former Spanish colonies including Venezuela, Argentina, El Salvador, Brazil, etc. So the ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity within the hispanic population is enormous and very rich. The Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants in Florida and New York have different dialects and cultures from the Mexican immigrants in Texas.  The linguistic scope of Spanish has steadily increased over the years, as the Hispanic populations continue to grow, integrate and become more varied.  In many locations you have Spanish immersion programs in public schools, websites, signage and notices in Spanish, and even ES/EN bilingual people serving the public.  I have no doubt that the penetration and influence of Spanish will continue to grow in the U.S. given the higher birth rates among the Hispanic population, and the continuing renewal through our porous Southern border. Luis Miguel, CEO of Avantpage Translations, joins SlatorPod to talk about the LSP’s mission over the past 25 years of helping immigrants and other limited-English-proficient (LEP) populations. Check out this list of resources from National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers National Park Service’s Telling All Americans’ Stories: Introduction to American Latino Heritage

Providing voting materials in non-English languages helps to encourage participation in the voting process and capture the voices of those in underrepresented and limited English proficient (LEP) communities. It also helps to sustain our society’s democratic process. Providing language access for LEP individuals also supports government in other ways. We’ll share how and provide five ways to increase voter turnout for LEP communities. Here are four ways multilingual materials support voter access. When LEP individuals have voting materials in their native language, it encourages them to participate in the process. It makes the entire voting process much easier and more engaging. Voter access by means of providing language access “encourages members of historically underrepresented communities to participate in elections, and ensures that all individuals can vote comfortably and knowledgeably.” The Voting Rights Act has increased voter turnout over time: In addition, language assistance is symbolic and helps to encourage participation in our democratic system for LEP individuals and English-speakers alike. There is a “sense that they feel more comfortable and welcomed in polling places in which there is increased descriptive presence from language-minority communities, and visible provision of multilingual services.” Language access motivates language minorities to run for office in more significant numbers. Community leaders have “explicitly acknowledged that the changes that enforcement activity brought about in the conduct of their local elections encouraged them to run for office.” With more significant numbers comes an increase in representation. Reports have shown that language access to voting correlates to improvement in faith to the law. By “deepening relationships between public officials, the communities they represent, and the voters who elect them, effective language assistance efforts increase faith and trust in government.” More voters will help support our democracy and society. Here are five ways to provide more language support to increase voter turnout. The more you know about your LEP communities, the better you can serve them. Learn more about locating language information in different demographic areas. This guide provides instructions on how to locate demographic data using data.census.gov. In addition to the federal requirements under the Language Minority Provisions of the Voting Rights Act, government agencies can take the following actions to support voter access: Look at local cultural organizations to find one you can partner with to get the word out about voting. Translate voting material communications, and share these with local organizations. Consider in-language pieces for local news, magazines or newsletters. Leverage interagency resources such as a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC), Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) or other resources that cover languages. You can participate in these committees as they are open to the public, and they’re a good way to see what other officials are doing. For example, the California LAAC and the translation advisory council in Oregon have monthly webinars for any participants. Understand how your audience wants to be communicated with for different types of communication, such as print, digital or radio, as well as different platforms for diverse audiences. If you aren’t sure, look at your digital analytics or consult with local leaders to understand where these audiences go for information. Democracy benefits by having active participation in the voting process. Providing language support can encourage underrepresented and LEP communities to vote. State, country or city government agencies can support their LEP communities in several ways through language access. As a translation company supporting the language needs of immigrants and LEP communities, we’ve been translating election materials for over 25 years. We can provide you with language resources and experienced translators to translate the content. Contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040 to learn more.

Language barriers can come in many forms, and reducing language barriers in healthcare needs to be innovative and detailed. Immigrants and limited English proficient (LEP) individuals have historically been marginalized and discriminated against due to accents or language capabilities, despite being integral members of our society.   Healthcare is one of the many areas where LEP individuals face communication challenges, sometimes resulting in negative experiences, care, and outcomes. These types of experiences may lead to avoiding care as a whole, resulting in more severe impacts on health when faced with things like:  Not providing full and meaningful language access creates uncertainty and complexity for the patient. To work towards an equity-based healthcare system that reduces health disparities, it’s important to make strides that create the opposite environment, working to eliminate harsh histories of discrimination. Healthcare organizations can do this by focusing on innovative ways to support and encourage the LEP voice in healthcare experiences.   To work towards a healthcare system that promotes equity for all, we need to actively work to reduce longstanding disparities in innovative ways. After all, improving access to care benefits LEP and underrepresented communities, and it improves the healthcare organization as a whole.   Organizations can start by creating a framework to advocate for and advance health equity. To create a culture of health equity, language should be written into internal procedures and processes, and training should be provided for staff. In addition, the messaging should be written into any content that involves patient quality and safety, and have a plan with measurable goals for improving care.   Here are some of the benefits that organizations can see.  If language preference isn’t addressed during a clinical encounter, the patient may receive lower quality and costlier care. LEP patients have an increased chance of readmission, risk of surgical delays, and longer hospital stays if an interpreter wasn’t available during admission and/or discharge.   In looking at readmissions, a study showed that over a 3-year period, readmissions were significantly fewer when telephone interpreters were available. Per the report, “language access represents an important service that all medical centers should provide to achieve equitable, high quality health care.”  One study found that only nine percent of people understand their health insurance. And that’s for people who speak English. For LEP patients, the complexity rises. However, when members understand their plan, it results in taking more action and receiving better care. Healthcare companies can help make their content easier for LEP members by translating their content, providing language access during the enrollment assistance program, and creating an outreach program to educate LEP communities.   When members understand their health insurance, financial incentives to seek higher quality doctors and hospitals can work. As a result, plan members can receive better care and plan performance can improve.  Improving patient satisfaction is a win-win for individuals and organizations alike. For patients, a better experience is directly tied to the process and providers of the care they receive, leading to better health outcomes.   On the business side, better patient experiences are tied to services provider loyalty, greater employee satisfaction and reduced turnover, financial incentives, and lower medical malpractice risks.   Staff can do a lot for LEP patients and their families if the environment is supportive and has the necessary resources for reducing language barriers in healthcare.  Organizations can support and encourage their staff to provide meaningful language access by using interpreters and sharing translated materials. Having a strategic and cohesive language access plan including training can help staff be better prepared and ready to help patients.  Patient handoffs are one of the most dangerous times of a patient’s care. And adding a language difference on top of that makes a situation even more complex. To minimize the difficulties during these times, standardize the process of language access during handoffs. For example, have an interpreter available during handoffs.  A study by JAMA Pediatrics found that children and their parents who face language barriers are two times less likely to say they’re unafraid of “asking questions when something does not seem right” and five times less likely to say they “feel free to question the decisions or actions of health care providers.  Providers should do more to make patients feel safe to speak up and ask questions. One way to help with this is to train staff to talk to LEP patients and their families about their care. Consider how questions are phrased. Simple yes or no questions are less encouraging for speaking up about questions or doubts. Providers can use questioning-tactics like asking the family to repeat their understanding, or what they can help further clarify are a few ways to encourage question-asking in a safe environment.   Even if patients speak some English, encourage them and their families to use an interpreter. Federal law requires that hospitals provide interpreters free of charge to those with LEP, so it’s their right to ask for this service. While a family member can pitch in if there isn’t another option, this can risk an increase of misunderstandings and create unnecessary complications. Therefore, it’s best to have a professional medical interpreter help with LEP patients.  Breaking through language barriers benefits LEP patients, their families, and healthcare organizations. Good care results in trust in providers, positive patient experiences, and better health outcomes.   We provide interpreter services for healthcare organizations, and we translate member and marketing materials. We want to help healthcare organizations reduce health inequities. For more information about our healthcare services, contact us at info@avantpage.com or (530) 750-2040.