Policy on Communication with Non-English or Limited-English Proficient, Hearing Impaired, and Visually Impaired Individuals

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality and Legal Services of Northwest Ohio -  030081

Abstract Number: 030081

April 2003

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) and Legal Services of Northwest Ohio (LSNO) adopted and implemented a policy on how staff should communicate with non-English, limited English proficient, hearing impaired, and visually impaired individuals. This policy is intended to ensure that eligible clients, irrespective of English language abilities, or hearing and visual impairments, receive high-quality legal services from ABLE and LSNO. ABLE and LSNO's policy describes how community language/communication needs will be assessed in their service area, the procedures staff will follow to accommodate clients' needs, and the population thresholds that will determine when community education materials and forms are translated into new languages. Important points of the new policy include:

• Conducting a needs assessment to determine the various languages spoken as well as the approximate number of LEP, hearing impaired, and visually impaired clients who are eligible for services.
• ABLE and LSNO will provide a trained interpreter for any client who would like one.
• Adult family members and friends may only be used to interpret after the client has refused services from an ABLE or LSNO provided interpreter and the attorney does not believe that the family or friend will either compromise the effectiveness of services or violate the client's confidentiality.
• Community Legal Education materials will be translated into languages spoken by 10% of the population. Other applicable documents will be translated into languages spoken by 5% of the population.

The development of this policy stemmed from the lessons learned by ABLE and LSNO through their work with the migrant farm worker community and more recently with the Asian community. With the implementation of this policy, ABLE and LSNO held trainings for their staff that both familiarized them with the policy as well to educate staff on how to best use interpreters with LEP clients. Access the full policy below.

Contact Information:

Joe Tafelski
Executive Director
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
520 Madison Avenue, Suite 740
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 255-0814
Fax: (419) 259-2880
Email

Kevin C. Mulder
Executive Director
Legal Services of Northwest Ohio
520 Madison Avenue, Suite 640
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 724-0030
Fax: (419) 321-1582
Email

Additional Information:

• ABLE and LSNO Policy on Communication with Non-English or Limited-English Proficient, Hearing Impaired, and Visually Impaired Individuals (113kb)

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