The City of Bellevue is in the process of developing a language access policy to address Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and ADA. Title VI requires agencies that receive federal funding to ensure all people have access to government services, regardless of national origin, which includes persons of limited English proficiency. The plans for implementing the policy, once adopted, will require further exploration including:
The funding mechanism for translation, interpretation and staff training;
The development of potential incentives and/or compensation for employees who are bilingual, determining whether only employees who are bilingual in certain languages will receive incentive pay (i.e., top five languages spoken in Bellevue) and the process for certifying an employee’s bilingual competency;
The development of training for staff on city and department language access policies and procedures that may include identifying the language needs of customers with limited English proficiency, requesting documents for translation, working with an interpreter in person or on the telephone, etc.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Livable City Year Contact Info
Teri Thomson Randall
Program Manager
terir@uw.edu
206.221.9240
University Faculty Contact
William Covington
Law
Senior Lecturer
covinw@u.washington.edu
(206) 616-4481
Local Government / Community Contact
Nancy LaCombe
City Manager’s Office