Week 3 – Discussion Board 1

[Art Liebl]

In at least 250 words talk about if you think present day legislation is enough. Do you see executive order 13166 being applied in your state? Respond to two fellow students by Monday.

[Johana Colon]

Present day legislation in the United States has made progress over the years, especially when it comes to civil rights and access to public services. However, many people feel that the laws we currently have are not always enough to meet the needs of today’s diverse population. One important example is Executive Order 13166, which was signed in 2000. This order requires federal agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to provide meaningful access to people who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). In simple terms, this means that people who don’t speak English well should still be able to understand and access important services like healthcare, education, and legal help.

Whether or not this executive order is followed depends a lot on where you live. In some states, especially those with large immigrant communities, there are systems in place to help non-English speakers. For example, hospitals may have interpreters available, and government offices might provide forms and information in different languages. In those places, you can clearly see Executive Order 13166 being used to help people. But in other states, especially ones with smaller LEP populations or less funding, the order might not be followed as carefully. Some agencies may not have interpreters, or they may not translate important materials, which can make it hard for people to get the help they need.

In my opinion, the law is a good start, but it’s not enough on its own. Just having the rule isn’t the same as making sure it’s followed everywhere. There needs to be better enforcement, more funding, and more effort to make sure all people no matter what language they speak can access the services they need.

[Art Liebl]

Great understanding of Executive order 13166! Here in Massachusetts we also have additional laws that protect immigrant populations by providing of interpreters services. The state itself spends millions of dollars on interpreting and translation services to help immigrants.

[Author]

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