Information Access: Wall of Champions

Policy / Information Access / Wall of Champions

Wall of Champions

[This is] an issue that isn’t owned by any one agency or organization. It’s really an issue that the system owns.

– Teri Morgan, Executive Director, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

What Does Info Access Look Like?

Virginia Department of Health

 

Two people sit and speak with a medical professional.The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) helps ensure that non-English speakers understand VDH programs, doctor visits, follow-ups and other health-related information. Non-English speakers can communicate in their preferred language with VDH staff interpreters or Language Services Providers.

VDH trains staff members who speak more than one language to become qualified interpreters through two options: a 40-hour professional interpreter training program or a 60-hour medical interpreter training program. These programs include a language proficiency test at the beginning of the training. VDH also provides these services by contracting professionals from outside vendors who offer high-quality interpretation and translation in more than 250 languages. In this way, VDH ensures that people from different backgrounds have access to services and important information.