Language Access -- General

  On April 12th, 2023 MLRI's state-wide Language Access attorney, Iris Coloma-Gaines, lead a CLAVC training on Language Access in the Massachusetts Trial Court and beyond. The slides used in the training are attached.  A video of the presentation can be viewed…

Access to voting materials in a citizen’s native language helps boost involvement and voter turnout.

In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.

Dear friends and allies, In preparation for ICE raids, as a community we have developed a set of Know Your Rights PSAs in Maya Mam to address the critical language barrier faced by many Maya families in the United States. The first set of SIX AUDIO CLIPS can be found on…

Over five million older adults across the country are Limited English Proficient (LEP). LEP older adults do not speak English as their primary language or they have a limited ability to speak, read, write, or understand English. The number of LEP older adults is growing. Federal and…

Our clients have a civil right to language access in programs and benefits offered by recipients of federal funding, such as courts, schools, and housing offices. How do we enforce those rights? And what are best practices for representing limited-English-proficient clients? Tere Ramos gives a great…

Language Access Complaint Procedure A MassHealth consumer may file a complaint with the Agency Language Access Coordinator or the Office of Access and Opportunity if they believe they have been denied the benefits of this Plan. This complaint must be filed within six months of the alleged…

As part of the settlement in the Luciano language access litigation, DUA agreed to promulgate good cause sub-regulatory guidance.  The memo is intended to insure that LEP claimants have equal access to unemployment insurance benefits.   In addition to covering DUA’s obligations…

Title VI Language Access Conference Learn to successfully represent clients with limited English proficiency by advocating for their language access rights In Massachusetts, 22% of the population speaks a language other than English at home, and…

The "Know Your Language Access Rights" video series provides understandable information about your rights to interpretation and fair access to public services. The video is available below in Spanish, English, Portuguese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and…

Complaint filed by Naomi Meyer on behalf of LEP client who was denied DTA benefits due to language barriers.

PowerPoint from The National Language Access Advocates Network (N-LAAN) monthly call discussing: Title VI obligations and HUD LEP Guidance; Language access issues in housing, particularly federally assisted housing; HUD’s new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule and…

The MA Language Access Coalition invites you to the Second Annual Language Access Conference Beyond Service, Toward Empowerment Friday, June 26, 2015, 9:30am-4pm at UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA To register online,…

"The Tools for Health project offers a collection of materials about consumer rights and how to obtain language services in the 31 most-commonly spoken languages in Washington. The toolkit includes; an “ISpeak” card for consumers to bring with them when seeking care which identifies the language…

Overview Blasi frames his article by first observing that, in his opinion, Ahmad’s article, to which he is responding, makes two significant contributions: first, Ahmad considers the interpreter as serving a role beyond mere translation; rather, the interpreter operates as a conduit for…

Overview An assortment of ten guides is provided to assist individuals, particularly those with Limited English Proficiency (“LEP”), navigate the judicial system. The guides are available in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The following list outlines the guides'…

Overview In New York, Limited English Proficiency (“LEP”) communities are growing at a rapid pace. The report observes that nearly 50 percent of New Yorkers do not speak English at home. Language access at agencies providing vital public benefits is of paramount importance as LEP…

This website is a resource library and online tool focused on assisting attorneys and advocates file Title VI Complaints on behalf of low-income LEP clients. Advocates can create a profile on this site to easily generate a Title VI complaint against a particular agency that can then be filed with…

D.C. Language Access Act of 2004 established a comprehensive language access law that would impose affirmative obligations on government agencies in D.C. It required that oral interpretation services for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals and that vital documents must be translated in…

The "Your Right to an Interpreter" poster is attached in editable horizontal and vertical formats, which you can edit to meet the needs of your client population. PDF versions are also attached. The English text reads, "You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you. Please…

"The Language Access Resource Center (LARC) provides information and resources about the rights of Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals. It describe the federal and New York State laws prohibiting discrimination against LEP individuals and the obligations of recipients of federal…

"WASCLA, or the Washington State Coalition for Language Access, is an organization consisting of legal professionals, advocates, law enforcement personnel, interpreters/translators, and court personnel who are dedicated to assisting state and local agencies within the State of Washington to…

The following links are short informational videos that provide an excellent introducton to the rights that limited English proficient individuals have in the United States and the obligations that many agencies and organizations have under Title VI and Executive Order 13166. Breaking…

The National Language Access Advocates Network (N-LAAN) is a national organization that supports and engages in effective advocacy to eradicate language discrimination and promote language rights. N-LAAN provides a forum for language access advocates to develop expertise, share resources and devise…

The Language Access Coalition (LAC) is a recently formed group of legal services advocates focused on the legal rights of limited English proficient (LEP) persons. We are collecting data and examples of LEP persons’ experiences when interacting with the trial…

In May 2007, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) published a report for action titled, "Increasing Access to Justice for Limited English Proficient Asian Pacific Americans". The report summarizes the state of language access services for Asian Pacific Americans…

Click the "Go to Website" link below or see PDF for Executive Order 478 by which Governor Deval Patrick promotes equal opportunity in agency programs, activities, and services and ensures that agency programs, services, activities and decisions do not discriminate against persons with…

Although limited-English-proficiency regulations explicitly prohibit national-origin discrimination, many persons of color continue to experience this horrific civil rights violation in the public education system, public health agencies, the courts, and social service agencies. An arsenal of legal…

For thirty years, federal civil rights policies have required federal agencies and federally funded entities to ensure that national-origin minorities with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to government services and activities. The mandate arises from Title VI of the Civil Rights…

Growing numbers of limited-English-proficient senior citizens frequently encounter language barriers when attempting to access government services and programs. Older people have a number of language-access rights under both federal and state law as well as under legal services program policies.…

Breaking the Language Barrier: A Report on English Language Services in Greater Boston reports Greater Boston's immigrants and the ESOL system designed to serve them. This report notes the availability of ESOL services available to immigrant communities in the Greater Boston area.

Click the "Go to Website" link below or see PDF for the text of the Executive Order 527 by which Governor Deval Patrick creates the Office of Access and Opportunity, dedicated to ensuring non-discrimination, diversity and equal opportunity in all aspects of state employment, programs,…

The following are links to various posters, flyers and "I Speak" cards.  These materials are translated into many languages.  They help clients who have limited proficiency in English to ask for help and service, including legal services, and to learn about their rights to an…

Compiled by the Department's Office of Multicultural Affairs.  "This directory contains information about agencies and institutions in the Commonwealth that offer culturally and linguistically appropriate services. The information collected is based on organizations' self reports. We hope that…