Honolulu, Hawaii — The struggle for language accessibility is a persistent hurdle for many immigrants in the U.Learn learning a new language as an adult can be daunting, and as a result, immigrants often depend on their children, who pick up the language at school, to navigate complex legal and healthcare systems.
Maria Rallojay, who moved from Baguio, Philippines to Hawaii at the age of seven, shared how she became an essential bridge for her father, handling everything from legal documents to tax consultations due to her proficiency in English. Her childhood experience underscores the broader implications of language barriers, extending far beyond simple communication difficulties.
Language barriers can prevent non-native English speakers from fully accessing vital services and participating in civic life. This not only impacts individual immigrants but also affects public health and safety during emergencies, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maui wildfires. Effective communication during such crises is not just about convenience but can be a matter of life and death.
Recognizing these challenges, advocates have been actively lobbying for better policies. This culminated in the Governor of Hawai’i signing several pivotal measures this month. These include the establishment of a language access coordinator within the Hawai’i Emergency Education Interpreters and Disaster Assistance Response Program to facilitate communication during natural disasters and emergencies.
The creation of an immigration service unit in the Department of Labor and Industrial Developments aligns with this purpose. It is tasked with ensuring that the non-English speaking population can understand and access labor rights and opportunities.
Additionally, the Office of Enterprise Technology Services is required to develop standards for state websites, ensuring that they offer multilingual accessibility. This initiative aims to enable immigrants to access online resources in their native languages, removing a critical barrier to information crucial for their integration and well-being.
Despite the progress, misconceptions persist. Some believe that immigrants disproportionately rely on welfare or other public benefits. However, Maria Rallojay and others firmly dispel this myth, emphasizing the resilience and self-reliance within immigrant communities. Rallojay points out the fear many immigrants face, even those legally in the country, of being deported due to accessing public services.
The implementation of these new laws has not been scheduled, but advocates see these developments as a significant step forward in combating discrimination and ensuring equitable access to resources. The goal is clear: to alleviate the challenges immigrants face due to language barriers, allowing them a better chance to thrive in their new homeland.
Such efforts underscore the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need for institutions to adapt to Hawaii’s demographically diverse landscape, ensuring that all residents, regardless of their origin, can participate fully in society.