Many different languages are spoken in Illinois.
According to Cook County data, 35% of residents speak a language other than English at home, and 14% of those say they can't speak English “very well.”
Meanwhile, immigrants continue to arrive in Chicago with limited English-speaking ability and few resources to navigate the situation.
A bill moving through Springfield aims to ease the burden non-English speakers face when accessing government services.
State Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook) introduced the Language Equity and Access Act earlier this year, explaining that current language services are inadequate.
“We have seen time and time again that some state agencies have great language access programs, while others lack language access programs when it comes to training and hiring. .It allows people beyond Spanish to interact with people who are fluent in limited English,” Avelar said.
The bill calls for the establishment of a centralized office to ensure that all government agencies, offices, and services have the appropriate tools to provide language services. This includes having translators and documentation in different languages.
“I think this is not just about language access, but also building trust with state agencies and community members who live in Illinois,” Aveler said.
Grace Pai, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, has supported the bill along with other members of the organization.
“Unfortunately, we have heard many stories from local residents who have had to provide interpretation and translation for their families,” Pai said. “…many immigrant families have had to ask their children to act as translators in places where children are not appropriate to serve, such as grocery stores or doctors’ offices.”
This year's legislative session has ended, and the bill will not be considered again until early next year. Until then, AAAJC and Avelar will continue to advocate for language access.
“We encourage organizations as well as community members to continue to reach out to their state representatives and state senators to let them know how important it is to ensure this bill passes,” Aveler said. said.
