Language Access Rights

Ensuring Inclusivity and Equal Access for All

Language should not be a barrier to accessing vital services, participating in civic life, and enjoying equal rights. Language access is essential for individuals and families to navigate public services, engage with local government, and fully participate in their communities. It is crucial that Filipino language support is provided to Filipino residents of San Francisco to ensure this does not hinder their ability to properly access healthcare, legal services, education and more.

San Francisco's Language Access Ordinance (LAO) ensures the City provides fair language access in Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, English and Vietnamese. It is one of the strongest local language laws in the nation.

Recommendation for Implementation of Filipino Language Access in San Francisco

Enforce the Language Access Ordinance

  • Provide correctly translated materials for all San Francisco city departments serving Filipino LEP speakers.

  • Hire certified translators and interpreters who can speak Filipino in city departments and ensure they are available during all operating hours to increase language access capacity of San Francisco city departments

  • Increase cultural awareness and cultural competency of city departments who serve Filipino LEP speakers in English but need Filipino language resources

Use Multiple Strategies to Increase Filipino Language Access

  • Publish a “Navigating San Francisco” city guide in Filipino and English to assist Filipino LEP speakers and newcomers to identify organizations to support their integration to San Francisco political life

  • Develop a consortium of translators and interpreters that can be drawn upon for needed city services and that is managed by a centralized system

  • Re-establish newcomer status to mark educational institutions in San Francisco Unified School District as Filipino-serving and language providing, in particular Bessie Carmichael School.

Recognize the Work of Community-based Organizations in Providing Culturally-sensitive, Linguistically-competent and Context-specific Language Services

  • Create a funding source or mechanism that provides compensation and resources for CBOs who are currently providing interpretation and translation at no charge

  • Change the San Francisco city guidelines for what is defined as translation to include speaking and discussing city materials with LEP clients

  • Recognize the significant role CBOs play in filling the gap of Filipino language access that San Francisco is fulfilling through financial compensation for tasks such as survey distribution

Filipino Interpreter and Translator Workforce Development

  • Certify Filipino interpreters and translators by providing certification and training opportunities

  • Create a pipeline for the trained interpreters and translators to be formally inducted into the aforementioned consortium for Filipino translation and employment in city departments

Public Awareness of Filipino as a Recognized Language in San Francisco

  • Increase public awareness and strengthen the value of Filipino as linguistic and cultural heritage of San Francisco through correctly translated signage in Filipino

  • Improve demographic data collection about Filipino LEP speakers to capture their barriers and obstacles with different city departments and services

  • All city departments should partner with OCEIA to incorporate Filipino in their materials and information. These efforts should be tracked by OCEIA.

Ready to Get Involved?

Are you passionate about ensuring language accessibility for the Filipino community in San Francisco? Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Become an Advocate

    Join local organizations working towards language rights and support their initiatives.

  • Attend Community Meetings

    Stay informed and actively participate in community discussions about language access issues.

  • Spread the Word

    Share information about language access rights within your networks to raise awareness.

Together, We Can Make a Difference!

By advocating for Filipino language access rights, we can ensure that every member of our community feels included and empowered. Your involvement is vital to creating a more inclusive San Francisco for all.