The Office on African Affairs (OAA) is committed to ensuring that African residents are able to take full advantage of The DC Language Access Act of 2004.

The goal of the DC Language Access Act of 2004 is to provide greater access to District government programs and services for individuals who may not speak, read, write and/or understand the English language and for those who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

There are 25 agencies identified by name in the Act that are required to do the following:

• Collect data on the languages spoken by the Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Non-English Proficient (NEP) constituent populations they serve and encounter, or are likely to serve and encounter;
• Assess the need for and offer oral language services; and
• Provide written translation of vital documents into any non-English language spoken by a LEP/NEP population that constitutes 3 percent or 500 individuals, whichever is fewer, of the population served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered by the covered entity.

In partnership with the Office of Human Rights (OHR), OAA will collaborate and consult with the Language Access Director (LAD), and the covered entities in their efforts to develop, update, and monitor the implementation of Language Action Plans pursuant to both the provisions found in the LAA and the scope of the mandates of their respective offices. As a result, OAA will support, assist, and guide the participating covered entities, the LAD, and OHR in the following areas:

• Data collection
• Outreach
• Quality control
• Hiring of bilingual Public Contact Positions (PCPs)
• Develop cultural competency trainings