Stories, insights

In October 2023, MultiLingual magazine published my article “A New Role for Language Services Providers,” which challenged LSPs to embrace a moral imperative: to become active agents of inclusion, not just providers of services. That article was personal.

Language barriers can hinder effective communication, limit access to essential services, and impede cultural exchange. What remains unclear is the extent to which such barriers can impact the lives of millions of people in ways that can be described as oppressive and discriminatory. Also not fully explored is the role that the language services industry has in creating a more inclusive culture where such impact can be reduced.

When meeting with healthcare leaders about language access, compliance, and safety, I often hear they’ve “figured out” language barriers because they have some bilingual staff or use an app. A few have even said that AI will soon “streamline” everything — including language access — by replacing most interpreters and translators.

Before 2020, remote interpreting in legal settings was largely treated as a contingency plan, used when geography, interpreter shortages, or scheduling made in-person interpreting genuinely difficult. The pandemic forced courts across the country to expand remote and hybrid proceedings quickly, and language access systems had to adapt just as quickly.

Featured by Multilingual, this article examines the impact of US English-only policy shifts on language access, compares global approaches, and argues for treating language access as essential civil-rights infrastructure, not charity.

You know that feeling when you're waiting for something important and the delay becomes real? In a medical consent conversation, that moment hits different. A simple scheduling delay suddenly becomes a cascade of impossible choices.

Here's the thing about language access problems in healthcare and social services: they're nearly impossible to track. But the quiet, steady pressure that builds when your front desk clerk is improvising translation for the third time in an hour? That doesn't show up anywhere. Until people start quitting, that is.

Our founder, Carol Velandia, featured on the Echoes of Meaning Podcast where she spoke about her lifelong mission to make language access an essential part of equity and inclusion in public services.

Our founder and CEO, Carol Velandia, recently joined Rebecca Drewette-Card, from the Public Health Did That podcast to talk about why language access matters, how it shapes health outcomes, and what needs to change so every person can receive care with dignity.

True language access begins by centering the Limited English Proficient (LEP) community — the individuals for whom these services exist. Their voices must lead every step of the movement.

Every person immigrating to the United States is seeking a life free from persecution, poverty, violence, or other hardships. These individuals, including myself, actively contribute to making America great, bringing our intellect, passion, and labor to enrich this nation daily. Our voices deserve to be heard regardless of the language that we speak.

How Doing Good Means Doing Well in Our Industry

Explore how Executive Order 14224 impacts language access in healthcare, education, and legal services—what it means for civil rights, LEP individuals, and the vital work of interpreters and translators.

The recent executive order designating English as the official language of the United States threatens decades of progress in language access.

The significance of language services and their impact on critical areas such as healthcare, legal systems, education, social services, and business.

Let's explore why medical interpretation is crucial, how it impacts patient outcomes, and what challenges and solutions lie ahead.

Language interpretation ensures that everyone can fully participate in legal proceedings and understand their rights.

Ensuring language access in healthcare settings is crucial for addressing these challenges and we believe it is an essential human right.

“LEP” stands for “Limited English Proficiency” and it is an acronym used to describe those individuals that are not fluent in the English language.

Language Access: Offering multilingual communities, access to the same services as to English Speaking individuals.