“Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English can be limited English proficient, or "LEP." These individuals may be entitled language assistance with respect to a particular type or service, benefit, or encounter.”

 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Title VI regulations, prohibiting discrimination based on national origin, and Executive Order 13166 issued in 2000. This Executive Order states that persons who are LEP should have meaningful access to federally conducted and federally funded programs and activities. Many individual federal programs, states, and localities also have provisions requiring language services for LEP individuals.

 

• Language access means providing persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) with reasonable access to the same materials, programs, and services as English-speaking individuals.
• Language access needs should be included in the planning and implementation of everything we do.
• Language access can be facilitated through interpretation and translation services, as well as the use of assistive devices (or assistive technology) to help individuals with hearing loss or a voice, speech, or language disorder to communicate.