Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC

Are you at CHIA’s 25th Annual Conference? Come by Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC's booth to say hello! #CHIA25 California Healthcare Interpreting Association

Join us for a Q&A with an expert from the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. The discussion will cover the current state of language access, diving into federal requirements, state and local policies, and how these pieces fit together to influence the use of interpreters by government agencies across the country. Following this moderated discussion, there will be ample time for attendees to pose questions. https://lnkd.in/eef-uusr

?? Sign Language Access Denied at the UN CRPD Session ?? The UN has failed to uphold accessibility rights at the 32nd session of the CRPD Committee. CRPD Member Mr. Hiroshi Tamon was denied sign language interpretation, forcing him to cover the costs himself—an unacceptable barrier to equal participation. Similarly, the Dominican Republic was forced to withdraw national sign language interpreters due to unexpected financial conditions imposed by the United Nations. These violations go against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS). The World Federation of the Deaf strongly condemns these setbacks and calls on the UN to take immediate action. ?? Deaf people must not be left behind. ?? The UN must model accessibility and inclusion. ?? Sign languages are human rights. ?? Read our full press release: https://lnkd.in/eJpp7z-K #Accessibility #SignLanguageRights #CRPD #UNCRPD #Inclusion #DeafRights

SAVE THE DATE! The Orange County Department of Education's 9th Annual Interpreters and Translators Conference will take place on October 3-4, 2025. We look forward to seeing you then! Registration and Call for Proposals will open soon, stay tuned! Natalia Abarca Jorge Ibarra

Thank you, Lorena C., for hosting yesterday's excellent webinar, Know the Context! Communication Models for Interpreters. Thank you to all our attendees from across the U.S. and the globe for your many wonderful questions and participation. CCC was thrilled to have nearly 900 people in attendance. ?? Click here to watch the webinar https://lnkd.in/gMZdRv7T

Starting off the week with Day 1 of The Community Interpreter Training(R)with bilingual staff from various School Districts across Orange County! Looking forward to an engaging day! Natalia Abarca Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC

AI Translation Should Never Replace Professional Healthcare Interpreters AI-driven translation tools lack the necessary context, cultural awareness, and precision required for accurate medical communication.?Professional healthcare interpreters are trained to ensure that language barriers do not compromise patient understanding, whereas AI cannot guarantee accuracy or accountability.?While AI can assist with terminology or background research,?it should never replace a qualified human interpreter in critical medical interactions. Microsoft has introduced?Microsoft Dragon Copilot, the healthcare industry’s?first unified voice AI assistant, featuring?Translation as a Feature (TaaF).?This product integrates Dragon Medical One (DMO), Microsoft’s voice recognition and dictation software, with its generative AI clinical assistant, DAX, to enhance clinician-patient communication, including real-time language processing translation. While this AI tool offers automation in clinical documentation,?Microsoft explicitly disclaims liability for the accuracy of its AI-generated outputs. This means that?Microsoft is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or misinterpretations that may arise from its AI-generated translations. Physician′s Liability? Physicians who use AI translation tools, such as Dragon Copilot, to communicate with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients?bear full responsibility?for any inaccuracies or miscommunications that result. Any?misinterpretation or mistranslation could lead to serious medical errors, misdiagnoses, improper treatment, and potential legal claims. Importantly,?medical malpractice insurance is unlikely to cover cases where physicians rely solely on AI translations for informed consent or clinical decision-making. Let’s be clear:? 1.?Physicians remain fully liable?for any adverse outcomes resulting from AI-generated translations. 2.?AI translations must be verified?against human-reviewed sources before being used in clinical decisions. 3.?Medical interpreters should always be used?for direct patient communication to ensure accuracy and compliance with informed consent requirements. 4.?Hospitals and providers should consult their malpractice insurers?to confirm whether AI translation use is covered under their policy. Physicians cannot shift liability onto AI for translation errors. Using AI translation in patient care does not absolve doctors of their responsibility to ensure accurate, informed, and ethical communication. #interpreters #healthcare #translators #AI #americantranslatorsassociation #professionals

??SAVE THE DATE!?? The United States Commission on Civil Rights will hold a briefing on March 21, 2025, to examine the extent to which language barriers impact access to government services and healthcare for individuals with limited English proficiency. #LEP #CivilRights #LanguageAccess For more info: https://lnkd.in/eHFNdKpW

Language Access is a Civil Right In 1980, 18-year-old Willie Ramirez was hospitalized in Florida. His Spanish-speaking family described his condition using the word “intoxicado,” intending to convey that he was ill from something ingested. However, the medical staff misinterpreted this as “intoxicated,” leading to a misdiagnosis of a drug overdose. The actual cause—a brain hemorrhage—went untreated, resulting in Ramirez becoming a quadriplegic. This tragic case underscores the critical importance of accurate medical interpretation and reinforces that language access is a fundamental civil right. Resilience in the Face of Change Our community has always risen to overcome language barriers. This new challenge is an opportunity to adapt and continue ensuring that language is a bridge, not a barrier. Advocacy for Multilingual Services Now is the time to educate policymakers and the public on the importance of language access. Share stories highlighting how interpreters and translated materials make a difference in healthcare, education, social services, and beyond. Adapting and Growing Professionally Diversify your skills by offering training for bilingual staff, utilizing technology for remote interpreting, and exploring new opportunities to meet evolving needs. Empowering Our Community Join forces with community centers, schools, and nonprofits to raise awareness about language barriers. Volunteer your expertise to support programs offering free or low-cost interpretation. Together, we can ensure no one is left behind due to language differences. Take Action Today ? Contact lawmakers to support multilingual services. ? Join language-access advocacy organizations. ? Educate communities about their rights to language assistance. ? Support initiatives that promote inclusivity. By staying united and proactive, we can transform this challenge into an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to language access.#savelanguageaccess

#TitleVI #executiveorders #civilrights #nationalorigindiscrimination #statementsofinterest #languageaccess #13166 #Lau #federalrights