Civil rights laws mandate that federally funded emergency response and recovery services must be accessible to all Americans. But at least 350 languages are spoken in the US, according to the US Census Bureau. And millions of people have hearing or vision problems or cannot read.
Recent devastating fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes have underscored the need for clear communication in disasters. Now the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a “plain language checklist” to help first responders make sure important information is shared.
The checklist, developed through the HHS Language Access Steering Committee, complements an emergency preparedness checklist released in 2016. It includes recommendations, action steps, and resources to help first responders provide on-the-ground language assistance. For example, a key recommendation is to not only identify languages and dialects spoken in the community, but specific types of sign language as well. The action steps include accessing state and local demographic data and identifying public spaces that serve people lacking English proficiency, such as libraries that offer language access resources.
The checklist also provides practical tips for working with interpreters, such as speaking directly in the first person to the individual (not the interpreter), avoiding idioms, acronyms, and double negatives. Red flags include interpreters who need repeated clarifications, who overuse English terms, and whose interpretations seem overly long or short compared with the statements being interpreted.
The HHS also recommends:
- Working with Centers for Independent Living and other groups who work with people with disabilities;
- Identifying local partners, such as hospitals, faith-based organizations, and legal services; and
- Coordinating with TV, print, radio, and online media to share plain-language, culturally appropriate emergency information.
The checklist is available at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/12/04/new-hhs-checklist-helps-first-responders-ensure-language-access-and-effective-communication-during-emergencies.html