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The Language Access Forums were a six-part, statewide virtual learning series co-created and facilitated by Wise and Open Doors for Multicultural Families (ODMF). Held from January through June 2022, the forums focused on strengthening language access and language justice across Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) services in Washington State. The series brought together service providers, advocates, and community stakeholders to build shared understanding, practical skills, and sustainable strategies for multilingual and culturally responsive service delivery.

The forums centered the lived expertise of multicultural family advocates, interpreters, and community leaders, modeling best practices for inclusive engagement and reinforcing the principle that effective services must be accessible to those furthest from systems of support.

Core Components

  • Co-Created Virtual Forums: Six 90-minute facilitated forums shaped by attendee-identified priorities, ensuring content was relevant and responsive to real-world needs.
  • Multilingual & Accessible Design: Spanish, Cantonese, and ASL interpretation were provided throughout the series, with intentional Zoom facilitation strategies to support meaningful participation.
  • Subject Matter Expertise: Multicultural family advocates and professional interpreters served as compensated subject matter experts, grounding discussions in lived experience and technical knowledge.
  • Systems-Focused Learning: Forums addressed policy, funding, tools, technology, and organizational practices needed to advance long-term language access and equity.

Outcomes & Impact

  • Engaged a diverse group of providers and stakeholders from across Washington State.
  • Strengthened provider knowledge and confidence around language access planning, interpreter use, and accessible communication.
  • Modeled equitable facilitation practices in virtual settings.
  • Elevated the voices and expertise of BIPOC families and community advocates.
  • Reinforced a shift from short-term language access solutions toward long-term language justice.

Forum Topics

  • Community Planning & Priorities
(January 2022):

Introductions, shared agreements, updates on statewide language access legislation, and identification of priority topics for the series.

  • Forum 2 – Working with Interpreters
(February 2022):

Tools and best practices for interpreter engagement, remote interpretation, and organizational self-assessment.

  • Forum 3 – Making Services Easier to Understand (March 2022):

Improving forms and materials through plain language and accessible design prior to translation.

  • Forum 4 – Funding Language Access Supports (April 2022):

Funding strategies, interagency perspectives, and addressing the digital divide.

  • Forum 5 – Technology Access (May 2022):

Culturally responsive use of technology, benefits and limitations of translation tools, and modeling humility in practice.

  • Forum 6 – Building Interpreter Networks (June 2022):

Interpreter systems, organizational language access planning, and statewide technical assistance resources.

Wise continues to build on the lessons from the Language Access Forums to support providers, systems, and communities in advancing equitable and accessible services across Washington State.

Interested in continuing or reimagining this work?

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