At Equal Access Language Services, we assert that language access is a fundamental right, essential for equitable participation in healthcare, education, legal services, and civic engagement. The recent executive order designating English as the official language of the United States threatens decades of progress in language access. While Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act still prohibit discrimination based on national origin, the removal of guidelines enforcing these protections weakens their effectiveness.
This policy shift creates uncertainty and disproportionately harms Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals seeking essential services. The ethical responsibility of public service providers (including doctors, judges, teachers, first responders, and police officers) is undermined when they lack the tools to communicate effectively with all individuals.
The consequences are profound: increased healthcare costs due to miscommunication, wrongful convictions in the justice system, and the undue burden placed on children forced to interpret complex information for professionals and family members. These outcomes not only affect 26 million of LEP individuals and their families, but also impede professionals from performing their duties ethically, thereby weakening public health, education, justice, and the economy.
Our Commitment and Call to Action:
· Preserve Existing Protections: Encourage federal and state agencies to actively enforce existing language access laws like Title VI and Section 1557 of the Affordable care act, among others, to ensure compliance and protect LEP individuals from discrimination.
· Raise Awareness: Educate communities and service providers about the importance of language access and the existing legal protections like title VI and section 1557.
· Support Language Services: Advocate for the continued provision of professional interpretation and translation services across all sectors.
· Educate and Advocate: If you work in healthcare, law, education, or public service, ensure your institution upholds language access.
Equal Access Language Services remains steadfast in our mission to ensure that every individual can be heard and understood, regardless of the language they speak.
#LanguageAccessMatters#EqualAccessLanguageServices #LEPRights #Languagerightsarehumanrights#Effectiveinclusionthroughlanguageaccess
