Introduction
Information! It is all that makes who we are and subsequently how we live. Being unable to get it across could truly cost more than imagined. Immigrants in the USA face this every day, and it influences their capacity to access crucial services and integrate on all levels, including the educational, healthcare, and professional. That’s why translation services for families that don t speak english are essential—they help bridge the communication gap and ensure that no one is left behind due to a language barrier.
Why Translation Services Matter for Families Who Don’t Speak English?
In melting-pot countries, like America, translation services for families that don’t speak English are safety nets for families who don’t speak English. They play huge roles other than linguistic! You can imagine healthcare, educational, psychological, professional and more.
In 2015, over 4.8 million limited English proficiency (LEP) K-12 learners enrolled in U.S. public schools (about 10%). And in 2019, around 67.8 million people in the U.S. were bilingual, compared to just 23.1 million in 1980, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: Language Use. Such a demographic shift highlights the paramount necessity for translation services for families that don’t speak English. They need to feel the equity and participate meaningfully in society.
Misunderstandings are very sensitive, especially when involving parent-child circumstances. A study on Latino immigrant families discovered that over 40% of families reported high levels of misunderstanding in their daily communications. This leads to “Shared Language Erosion” and shaken parent-child relationships!
And let’s not even try to get into healthcare disasters or economic and social mobility disadvantages that you can read more about here!
What U.S. Law Requires: Language Access Rights for Non-English-speaking Families?
As a country that seeks unity through differences, the USA has since long ago been establishing laws, orders, acts, etc. to keep its diversity flourishing but also evolving. Yet, there have always been enforcement gaps, which lead to more efforts and newer acts every now and then. Here are some of those laws:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Section 1557: Prohibits federally funded healthcare entities from denying access to services based on nationalities and languages (requiring professional translation services).
Civil Rights Act’s Title VI (1964): Prohibits discrimination upon language, mandating free translation for any federally funded institution.
Lau v. Nichols (1974) Supreme Court Ruling: Requires schools to provide language assistance to English language learners (ELL) and parents.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990: Stipulates language access to ensure families of students with disabilities participate in their educational decision-making.
Executive Order 13166 (2000): Requires federal agencies to create language access plans for LEP individuals.
ACA Section 1557: Directs insurers/health providers to offer translation services or else they risk losing their federal funding.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Requires schools to provide language access processes regarding families’ rights and student records through qualified translation professionals.
DOJ/ED Guidelines (2015): Orders schools to employ trained interpreters (bilingual staff only are non-compliant).
Why Shouldn’t Family Members Be Used as Interpreters in Critical Situations?
The number of mistakes that family members or ad-hoc translators make for families that don’t speak English is countless. However, mistakes in critical situations can literally contribute to catastrophes! To name a few:
Lack of Specialized Terminology: leading to misinformed decisions and poorly followed treatment.
Children Errors: omitting 48% of sensitive details due to embarrassment or complication.
Negative Impact on Children: leading to errors, chronic stress, emotional conflicts, and even violations of Title VI and ACA (100% of Spanish-speaking students in Midwest schools report doing so).
Emotional Bias, Filtering of Difficult News or Altering Information: negatively impacting patients’ autonomy and decision-making.
Confidentiality and Privacy Issues: as family members do not comply with the required professional ethics.
Clinical Coercion: a Bengali-speaking patient was once labeled “uncooperative” after her daughter corrected the hired interpreter.
What Translation Services Do Immigrant Families Need in Schools and Healthcare?
In schools, for immigrant families to stay safe and sure, they need translation services for families that don t speak english through all educational stages. This includes school enrollment essential documents, such as student handbooks, school policies, and emergency procedures; parent-teacher conferences and meetings; and special education services for individualized education programs (IEP) for students with disabilities and more.
In healthcare, professional translation services for families that don t speak english are a dire requirement. They are arranged for medical appointments and informed consent regarding routine check-ups, emergency room visits, etc.
It is equally crucial in mental health services, with all the cultural and linguistic challenges in play. In addition,translation services for families that don t speak english are indispensable in health education materials for higher health literacy and stronger preventive services, including vaccinations, cancer screenings, and more.
Did you know employing professional medical interpreters helps reduce diagnostic errors by 67%?!
Where Can Families Find Trusted Translation Services and Language Support?
Families that don’t speak English can find language assistance and professional services through local government agencies, community-based organizations, immigrant and refugee resettlement programs, and community colleges and universities. Many districts, for example, offer resources like telephonic interpretation and two-way communication apps as well.
Hospitals and healthcare providers, too, provide on-site interpreters or over-telephone interpreter services in multiple languages. In addition, there are numerous professional agencies that offer certified translation services for legal, medical, immigration, and academic purposes. These agencies often have translators with expertise in specific fields and can provide translations that meet the requirements of various institutions.
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Moreover, you can resort to online platforms that provide certified translations and even AR/VR translation services, with transparent pricing. They are a convenient option for birth certificates, marriage certificates, and academic transcripts translations.
Furthermore, there are other entities that offer expert translations too, such as non-profit legal aid organizations and advocacy groups that specialize in information and resources on language access rights. They may also provide free or low-cost interpretation and translation services for families that don’t speak English.
FAQ
Can schools use Google Translate for official documents?
No. Untrained tools violate federal accuracy standards. Federally funded organizations must provide timely and professional human translation for their services.
Are translation costs covered by insurance?
Yes. There are ACA-compliant insurers who are bound to provide free interpretation in America.
Conclusion
Translation services have grown as a solution to LEP families’ inequities in English-speaking countries. However, they must understand the importance of certified professional translation services. For this reason, the government and private organizations try to employ culturally validated tools, and community partnerships for utmost compliance and ethical care to prevent translation crises.
The translation landscape is broad and complex. However, ClickTrans simplifies it all with a team of specialized linguists, who work closely with you to meet your exact requirements, with clarity and precision.
