The entire community benefits when immigrants are given help learning English, and are able to advance their education and move into the job market. That was the message delivered at a Language Access town hall meeting the Merriweather Library on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo.Data compiled by the Partnership for the Public Good said the immigrant population locally has risen 70 percent in the past 10 years, with arrivals from an increasingly diverse array of countries speaking an increasing array of languages and dialects. The forum talked about the increasing range of legal requirements to ensure people receive services in a language they can understand.
International Institute Language Services Director Emily Brady said culture has to be considered when providing language services.
"We're certainly very conscious of cultural sensitivity and different cultural norms, and we try to work with the providers on insuring the best care for the patients or best services for the clients," Brady said. "That might involve asking if the patient prefers a female interpreter, so we'll certainly honor that request."
While there are a lot of languages spoken locally, it's less likely that a local resident is certified to translate a particular language. That leads to the constant use of a variety of telephone services to provide an interpreter.
