At the heart of Equal Access Language Services (EALS) lies the commitment to fostering environments where effective communication is paramount. Founded by Carol G. Velandia P., a Colombian American living in the US, this global catalyst of linguistic inclusivity is equipped with the expertise and passion to honor the powerful impact of words. Whether by instilling language access strategies within businesses, or offering translating and interpretation services across all sectors, EALS remains dedicated to amplifying the voices of those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and uniting diverse perspectives.
Throughout years of experience as a language access advocate, negotiation, and conflict resolution expert, Carol witnessed a striking nationwide discrepancy—though companies and governments take a lot of pride in accelerating Diversity Equity Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), these strategies rarely include Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons, leaving over 25 million people outside of that concept. Hoping to fill that blatant void and alleviate the difficulties the LEP population faces, Carol created EALS.
With a focus on business organizations and governments, EALS aims to steward more strategic approaches where businesses and organizations have an amplified focus on the community they serve, where all nationalities have equal opportunities and access. However, as Carol emphasizes, that progressive shift is obstructed by multiple challenges, starting with financial unpreparedness. Initial business strategies and budgeting rarely encompass language access services such as professional translators or interpreters.
Misunderstanding permeates many institutions, revealing itself in the common lack of distinction between the translator and interpreter definitions. While the first focuses on translating content accurately, the latter is dedicated to transferring meaning from one language to another in the oral or signed form. This seemingly small difference is essential in ensuring effective communication in any industry or setting. “Because of this lack of understanding, many companies hire bilingual personnel without verifying their level of language proficiency, ultimately creating an inadequate language access for the LEP communities,” adds Carol.
These trends are rooted in an underlying issue—underestimating the importance of language inclusivity from a business perspective. The two-way dynamic that language access promotes revolves around mutual understanding, enabling LEP persons and providers to have communicative autonomy and to treat and be treated with dignity.
Ineffective communication can lead to systemic injustice, such as unfair court treatment, disparities in education, and inadequate medical care. To illustrate her point, Carol alludes to a recent experience of her client:
A man from Honduras who fled his country of origin due to persecution by gangs took the perilous trip to the US in La Bestia, the train infamous for maiming people. Upon arrival, he was caught by immigration and sent back to his country of origin, from where he had to flee again to avoid a certain death. He came through the Sonora desert and after a very difficult journey, he finally found safety in the US. A few months later, he unfortunately fell ill. When Carol met him at the hospital, he was relieved to be able to communicate in his language. His previous appointment had been canceled due to a lack of interpreter availability. That made Carol think that when we don't provide adequate communication, we are victimizing people who have already been oppressed before. This person had already endured violence, poverty, and now, illness. This experience inspired Carol to pursue this line of work.
Linguistic shortages also bleed into schooling systems, greatly affecting bilingual children. “Kids often act as the middlemen between teachers and parents. The issue lies in masking system deficiencies, ascribing children the task of interpreting as a demonstration of gratitude and love for their parents, when in reality, we need to emphasize the responsibility and duty of care that teachers and other professionals have when communicating with LEP immigrant families” stresses Carol. “At Equal Access Language Services, we believe changing that discourse is crucial. Interpreting should be done by professionals, not by 10-year olds regularly pulled out of classes to fill inadequacies created by adults.”
Carol underlines that behind these faults is the deeply rooted national origin discrimination dressed in much less controversial language-based terms. The key to combating this profound issue is for professionals to realize their ethical and legal obligation to people with LEP, creating transparent communication channels without excuses or delays.
The journey to a more inclusive future begins with language experts, such as Carol and her team at EALS. Professional translators and interpreters meticulously support companies’ verification process, ensuring that the hired bilingual people have the competency to implement changes and leave tangible impacts. EALS’ regular training services enable organizations to adjust their language access strategies according to evolving needs, enriching firms’ offerings with translated websites, voiceover videos, and other accessible solutions.
Since technology has risen into the spotlight, many businesses incorporated AI into their business strategies, using deep tech to translate content. While that approach is more affordable, Carol highlights the necessity of the human touch to make it safe and effective. By hiring seasoned interpreters to elevate and verify AI-generated content, companies uplift accuracy and impactfulness, fulfilling ethical and social responsibilities. In planning these changes, EALS guides companies through the language access process, providing results-driven concepts that are as cost-efficient as they are effective.
Since 2017, Equal Access Language Services has been leading the language access revolution, pushing for more effective inclusion of the nine percent segment of the population that is linguistically diverse. The company is supported by Carol’s years of experience, combining interpretation, social work, and entrepreneurship, offering a nuanced perspective on how to approach language barriers in a way that equalizes and dignifies people. The practical application of her work is reflected in her training program ‘Effective Inclusion through Language Access’, where leaders and employees alike can integrate new behaviors and spark a cultural change.
“The reason why I am so excited to work at EASL is because there is a lot of work to be done. Language-based discrimination is a faceless battle with an ever-moving context, however, if we nurture this idea right, we could foster understanding among cultures, which will lead to justice and even peace. We need to aim for justice for all. As Poet and activist Amanda Gorman pointed out, the fact that something just is does not mean justice.”
Media Contact
Name: Carol G. Velandia P.
Email: [email protected]
