CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES
INTERIM COMMITTEE LANGUAGE ACCESS ADVISORY BOARD
Date Jul 31, 2024
Location SCR 357
Community Perspectives - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:51:34 AM |
Chair Rutinel invited
the next panel of presenters to begin, which included: Angelica Prisciliano,
Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition;
Olivia de Pablo-Lopez, Community Language Research Group, La Plata Food
Equity Coalition; and Khatira Amn, Senior Policy Advocate for Early Childhood,
Spring Institute. Ms. Prisciliano began her presentation, which can be
found as Attachment B. She provided an overview of the current status of
language access at the Capitol and language accessibility amongst legislators
and staff. She provided a list of considerations to improve language access
in the legislative process, including the creation of a language accessibility
office, accessible website content, training for legislators and staff,
and diversifying legislative staff hires.
|
|
09:56:59 AM |
Ms. Prisciliano discussed different preferences in interpretation for simultaneous interpretation and in person services for people attending meetings in person at the Capitol, and remote interpretation for those attending legislative meetings remotely. She discussed the importance of using human interpretation as opposed to technical, computerized, or Google interpretation. She explained the need for a real person to review translated materials and stated that simple language is encouraged. She spoke about investing in the most spoken and most requested languages and building a resource list of available interpretation services for the public to access.
|
|
10:02:53 AM |
Ms. Prisciliano provided
several examples of language access currently being used by the Colorado
Department of Early Childhood through language competent staff, the City
and County of Denver, and Governor Polis' Facebook page. She explained
that language access empowers marginalized communities, develops a sense
of belonging, increases community representation, and supports civic engagement.
|
|
10:05:11 AM |
Ms. de Pablo-Lopez began her portion of the presentation. She provided background information on the volunteer-based Community Language Research Group. She reviewed their best practices toolkit (Attachment C) and explained the importance of illustrating the human side of immigration, promoting trauma-informed responses, and discussing how and why people immigrate to this country. She talked about the training program for new interpreters and translators, many of whom are the children of immigrants, and using skills to integrate into the larger community and create a sense of belonging while also working towards being competent English speakers.
|
|
10:14:38 AM |
Ms. Amn spoke about
her personal story as an immigrant from Afghanistan. She provided background
information on the mission and purpose of the Spring Institute. She told
the committee about the Colorado Language Access Coalition (CLAC) which
was founded in August 2023 and is a group of over 80 advocates, community
members, nonprofit staff, and government representatives who champion policies
and advocacy strategies that further language access for linguistically
diverse people across the state. More information on CLAC can be found
as Attachment D.
|
|
10:23:18 AM |
Ms. Amn explained
that approximately six percent of the population of Colorado has limited
English language proficiency. She stated the importance of everyone being
able to have their voice heard by their representatives and be active participants
in our democracy, and provided recommendations for having a combination
of computer software for initial translation as well as human interpreters
and "cultural brokers".
|
|
10:28:24 AM |
The panel answered
questions from the committee members. They discussed the difference between
translation services and interpretation services and the definition of
"plain language". Several members agreed that lanugage interpretation
and cultural brokering cannot always go together because sometimes they
are the opposite of each other.
|
