Language as an Equalizer
Carol Velandia Pardo
School of Social Work
Collaborator: Dr. Ana Maria Gomez Londono
This COIL course provides an overview of the impact of language in healthcare systems and tools to integrate language in the care of clients and patients. It discusses the challenges faced by persons with Limited English Proficiency, providers, and institutions, and delves into the laws and cultural standards behind language services.
In the United States, nine percent of the population doesn’t speak English. For them, language represents a barrier to good outcomes in public services, thus, Limited English Proficiency is yet another layer of disadvantage in the intersectional experience of refugees, immigrants, and citizens. Overcoming these barriers is a shared responsibility.