An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
()
or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
"All children in the United States have an equal right to enroll and participate in public elementary and secondary schools without regard to their or their parents’ or guardians’ immigration status."
Press Release (English) "Timely and accurate communication between limited English proficient residents and police officers is essential to public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division.
Press Release (English) "We can’t achieve our nation’s promise of access to justice for all without dismantling language barriers in our judicial system,...I commend the OAC’s Chief Judge and leadership for taking action to realize this promise and for their commitment to provide critical services for court users with limited English proficiency.”
"[T]he Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces that it has entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) are provided meaningful access to DCS programs and activities, including reunification services." January 7, 2021 Press Release.
This checklist provides a list of components Enhanced Collaborative Model anti-human trafficking task forces should consider when developing a language access protocol. Per OVC definition, A language access plan is an organizational document that contains a comprehensive set of policies and procedures that ensure that limited English proficient individuals will have meaningful access to that agency’s programs, services, and products. This checklist can be used as a guide for the development of a strong protocol. While it is not mandatory to include all items, it is important that task force members discuss and agree what should be included specific to their local task force.
Slide 3: "Language access is achieved when individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) can communicate effectively with your program staff and participate in your programs and activities."
Schedule LEP, Request for Change in Language Preference Form at 2: "Schedule LEP is not mandatory but can be filed with a tax return by taxpayers with limited-English proficiency to indicate their language of preference for IRS-issued written communications or change their language of preference."
"PHAs must take reasonable steps to ensure full and meaningful access to the remote hearing or remote briefing for LEP persons consistent with its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The obligation to provide meaningful access for LEP persons, regarding remote hearings and remote briefings, is particularly important meaning that the PHA will generally need to coordinate with a remote language interpretation service prior to the remote hearing or remote briefing."
DOL: OSHA Coronavirus (COVID-19): Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work Poster (English)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Voluntary Resolution Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services - December 19, 2019 [Press Release] [Voluntary Resolution Agreement]
Justice Department and Louisiana Supreme Court Reach Agreement to Provide Language Assistance for Individuals Not Proficient in English (English)
El Departamento de Justicia y la Corte Suprema de Luisiana Llegan a un Acuerdo Para el Ofrecimiento de Apoyo Lingüístico a Individuos que no Dominan el Inglés (Spanish Español)
SỞ TƯ PHÁP VÀ TÒA ÁN TỐI CAO BANG LOUISIANA THỐNG NHẤT THỎA THUẬN CUNG CẤP DỊCH VỤ HỖ TRỢ NGÔN NGỮ CHO CÁC CÁ NHÂN KHÔNG NÓI TIẾNG ANH THÀNH THẠO (Vietnamese Tiếng Việt)
LE MINISTÈRE DE LA JUSTICE ET LE TRIBUNAL SUPRÊME DE LOUISIANE ONT PASSÉ UN ACCORD EN VUE DE FOURNIR UNE ASSISTANCE LINGUISTIQUE POUR LES SUJETS N’AYANT PAS UNE MAÎTRISE SUFFISANTE DE L’ANGLAIS (French Français)
اتفاق وزارة العدل والمحكمة العليا في لويزيانا لتقديم المساعدة اللغوية للأفراد الذين لا يتقنون اللغة الإنجليزية(Arabic العربية)
U.S. Census Bureau - 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates, including language data, is on American Factfinder (December 6, 2018)
Justice Department and Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Circuit Court Partner to Ensure Equal Access for Limited English Proficient Court Users in Court Operated Class
Frequently Asked Questions on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Applying the Tagline Requirement to Covered Entities that Operate Health Programs or Activities in More than One State – (HTML)
Resource for Entities Covered by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act Estimates of at Least the Top 15 Languages Spoken by Individuals with Limited English Proficiency for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories- (PDF)
Guidance to State and Local Governments and Other Federally Assisted Recipients Engaged in Emergency Preparedness, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery Activities on Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - August 17, 2016
DOJ Justice Blog: Recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month - October 14, 2015 (English)
To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division created two national maps that highlight an important and often overlooked aspect of Hispanic communities: individuals who identify as Spanish-speaking and limited English proficient (LEP).
New York Attorney General Announces Two Agreements to Improve Hospital Services for Those with Limited English Proficiency - October 7, 2015 (Press Release) (Agreement 1) (Agreement 2)
U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Reach Agreement to Improve Access for Limited English Proficient Workers - October 1, 2015
In recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Civil Rights Division has released two national maps displaying the number and concentration of limited English proficient people who speak Asian languages.
New York Attorney General Schneiderman Announces Agreement With Yonkers Police Department To Establish Formal Language Access Policy (August 6, 2015) (Press Release) (Agreement)
Department of Justice and Mohave County, Arizona Superior Court Work to Ensure Language Access for Non-English Speakers
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Reach Voluntary Agreement with Independence, Missouri Housing Authority to Increase Access to Housing for Limited English Proficient Persons- April 14, 2015
Department of Justice and Hawai'i State Court System Work Collaboratively to Ensure Equal Access for All Limited English Proficient Individuals in Hawai'i Courts- March 24, 2015
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights reached an agreement with Mee Memorial Hospital to expand and improve accessibility for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), including persons who speak indigenous languages.
*Attribution. Attribution to the NCAOC must be clear and visible on any and all of your materials and products in whatever format they exist. Attribution should be substantially similar to the following: “The North Carolina court forms included in this publication are created by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, which office has given permission for the use of these forms in this publication.
OCR launches national compliance review initiative, "Advancing Effective Communication in Critical Access Hospitals," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)- April 30, 2013 (Press Release in PDF ) (HHS/OCR Report in PDF)
Enhanced National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards), Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- April 2013
Justice Department Reaches Settlement with School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. The agreement includes "translation and interpretation services throughout the registration" and "disciplinary process" for ELL students and parents who are LEP- February 26, 2013 (Agreement) (Press Release)
The Language of Justice, Deeana Jang, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Blog, February 19, 2013
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agreement with a property management company in Virginia Beach, VA, which will pay $82,500 to settle allegations that it refused to allow a Hispanic woman to apply for an apartment because she did not speak fluent English. HUD Press Release- January 16, 2013. Agreements (PDF)