Translation Services Still Lacking for Some Public School Parents
07.27.2015 | WNYC Schoolbook | Every school has access to over-the-phone interpretation services, but the NYIC surveyed 175 parents this year and found that only six percent of them had ever used it. “Language Line is available in more than 200 languages,” said Abja Midha, Project Director for Immigrant Students’ Rights at Advocates for Children, the second firm that filed the 2012 suit. “This is a great resource the city has available and that schools have available in order to communicate with parents.” The NYIC’s survey, which came out last month, found that more than half of parents had used their children or other students as interpreters. According to Midha, even when there is interpretation, many times it’s unprofessional. She said many times teachers or school psychologists serve as untrained interpreters, often telling parents what to do and not being neutral. Read article