A whole life should not
get lost in translation.

Dr. Venera Bekteshi, PhD, MSW, MPA, MA, LCSW

Imagine trying to describe the hardest moment of your life in a language you rarely use for feelings.

You know what you want to say. You are searching for words that can carry its weight.

Across the table, someone is waiting.

For attorneys and clinicians, that moment deserves preparation: competent language assistance, clear explanations, time to clarify, and attention to the person speaking.

Ask which language they prefer for conversation and written information. Confirm the support before the meeting begins.

A person brings a whole life into the room.

Our responsibility is to make room for its meaning.

Explore the CIAS Practitioner Toolkit: the toolkit · 9E. Meaning-Check Scripts (p. 36) ↗ · training video: Cultural Context and Meaning-Checks

Source: HHS National CLAS Standards on language assistance and interpreter competence in health care. minorityhealth.hhs.gov/cultural-and-linguistic-competence