Effective communication is essential to a functioning society. Language barriers prevent millions of people from fully participating in civic life and make it harder for police officers, healthcare providers, and emergency responders to do their jobs effectively. When people can communicate clearly, everyone benefits—from faster care in emergencies to stronger public trust and safer communities.
Language Access
Changes Lives
Who are we?
The National Coalition for Language Access unites diverse organizations and individuals committed to promoting services that support people who speak limited English, who are Deaf, Deafblind or hard-of-hearing to get access to vital services. Learn more at ncfla.org.
Why is it important?
What do we hope to accomplish?
How can you help?
Why do we care about
Language Access?
Language access helps people who speak limited English or are Deaf, Deafblind or hard of hearing and the English speakers who serve them to communicate with each other.
It helps the professionals in our community who provide public services, like first responders, teachers, and health care workers, do their jobs more effectively. For example, if healthcare providers cannot get a clear medical history from a patient, they are forced to prescribe more tests, and they run the risk of misdiagnosis or creating inappropriate treatment plans. In schools, family engagement plays an essential role in a child’s educational outcomes. When teachers and parents can communicate, they can work together for the child’s benefit.
Language access is also crucial for those who speak limited English, or are Deaf, Deafblind or hard of hearing. If they can’t communicate with their doctors, patients suffer and can even die, people cannot get access to the justice system, and parents cannot participate in their child’s education. Language access guarantees that everyone has the chance to participate fully in public life.
Our Objectives Towards
Making a Difference
01
Connecting with organizations that provide public services
02
Organization connects with the people
We depend on these organizations to inform people about our project, to share this website with them, and to help collect their stories.
03
Collect the story
04
Store the story
05
Share as appropriate
Share your Story,
Make a Difference
Do you speak limited English, or are you Deaf, Deafblind or hard-of hearing? Do you know someone who speaks limited English or is Deaf, Deafblind or hard-of-hearing? Do you have patients or clients with these communication needs?
This website is a place for you to tell the story.
– Maybe you worked with an interpreter who made a big difference in how well you could access or provide services. What did that person do? How did it impact you and the person you were trying to communicate with?
– Maybe you were a child who had to interpret for your parents at school, at the doctor’s office or with the police. How did that feel? How does it affect you today?
– Maybe you were told to “bring your own interpreter” or that a hospital or school didn’t have to provide you with an interpreter. What happened? What was the outcome?
– Maybe you know of a patient or client who wasn’t provided with an interpreter. How did they communicate? Or couldn’t they?
Educate policymakers
Elevate unheard voices
Raise public awareness
Answers to Your
Burning Questions
What if I have a story to share but wish to remain anonymous?
How will the coalition use these stories?
These stories will be published on our website. They may be used by journalists reporting on changes to language access that are happening today. They may be used by advocates who are educating the public or helping to change public policy. They may be used by healthcare/legal/educational professionals who are pushing for better language access in hospitals, courts and schools. As such, they could be shared in newspapers, in public testimony or in reports.
What if I’d like to remove my story?
I would like to use one of these stories in an article or a report. How do I get in touch with someone?
Drop us a line
