If you are a state agency, division, office, bureau, commission or board, you are probably encountering increased linguistic diversity, especially in certain parts of the state.

Challenges are posed by Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals who are stopping at offices to access services, but are unable to communicate or understand staff members there. Maybe you are interested in marketing your services to a specific language and/or ethnic group who are in dire need of your services. We can help.

Examples of practices which could lead to a violation finding under Title VI are:

• Providing services to LEP (Limited English Proficient) persons which are more limited in scope or that are lower in quality than those provided to other persons;
• Subjecting LEP persons to unreasonable delays in the delivery of services;
• Limiting participation in a program or activity on the basis on English proficiency;
• Providing services to LEP persons that are not as effective as those provided to those who are proficient in English;
• Requiring LEP persons to provide their own interpreters or pay for the services of interpreters.

Here is a list of documents recommended for translation. Remember, translation of materials can also be from a foreign language into English.:

• Benefits application forms
• Interview questionnaires
• Manuals
• Standards & code regulations
• Marketing flyers
• Vital Statistics such as birth records, death records in other languages.
• Newsletters or digests
• Press releases
• Tourism guides
• Public notices
• Signage