Introducing WASCLA Tools for Health

Editor’s note: This outreach project report was completed and submitted in 2014, but the information is still very relevant:  By Joana Ramos, jramos@wascla.org Washington State Coalition for Language Access The Washington State Coalition for Language Access marked an important milestone on April 24, 2014, with the launch of its Tools for Health project at a special event held at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. This project created the first centralized resource in the state for multilingual consumer materials about language access rights in healthcare. The launch date itself had special significance as it coincided with the 50th anniversary week of the signing of the Civil Rights Act, on April 21, 1964. The Act’s Title VI includes a ban on discrimination based on national origin which is the legal basis for guaranteeing equal access to services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). The idea for the Tools for Health project itself came from ongoing observations by WASCLA members of the need for increased awareness of the right to meaningful language assistance, among both the general public and healthcare providers. While some facilities in Washington now do an excellent job in providing language access services, the situation varies tremendously across the state. It is still common to hear of patients being turned away due to lack of interpreter services, or being told to bring a friend or relative or even their child, to interpret at medical appoi...
Source: Dragonfly - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: News from Network Members Source Type: news