“Providing greater access and participation in public services, programs and activities for residents of the District of Columbia with limited or no-English proficiency...”  ~DC Act 15-414

On April 21, 2004, the District of Columbia enacted a fundamental piece of civil rights legislation—the DC Language Access Act of 2004. The Act holds covered agencies accountable for providing the District’s limited and non-English proficient (LEP/NEP) residents with greater access to and participation in their programs, services and activities. The Act identifies the Office of Human Rights (OHR) as the agency designated to oversee and enforce the implementation of the law. OHR houses the District’s Language Access Program whose mission it is to provide oversight, central coordination, and technical assistance to covered agencies in their implementation of the law.

The Language Access Program is comprised of the Language Access Director and Program Analyst. The Language Access Director reports directly to the Director of the Office of Human Rights and works in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (OAA),  the Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA), the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (OLA), and with the DC Language Access Coalition.

As the nation’s capital, the District has the responsibility to create and uphold an equal standard of service for those individuals who request and require its services. The Office of Human Rights, its partners, and District agencies take this mandate seriously and welcome all constituents to its doors regardless of language spoken.

For more information on the program and Act, please refer to the links below. 

Bilingual "I Speak" and "Know Your Rights" Cards Take the “Know Your Rights” Survey and Pledge Compliance Reports DC Language Access Act of 2004 and Fact Sheet File a Language Access Complaint Find a Language Access Coordinator Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) View Data Sources for Demographic Data on the District’s LEP Populations Find a Bilingual Job Vacancy with the District Government Read OHR Reports on Translation/Interpretation “Certification” Programs Regulations for the Language Access Act   Questions? Ask the Language Access Director Interpreter's Oath Document* Take OHR’s Language Access Online Training Now

Compliance Reports

The Office of Human Rights (OHR) is required to annually report progress of Language Access Act enforcement to the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia. The report includes compliance summaries and status of each District agency identified by name in the Act and/or through regulation. Additionally, the Director reports policy recommendations, where necessary, for District agencies.

Issued for DC residents, the report consists of data accumulated during the District's fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. Annual reporting for the program began in fiscal year 2007. Select the link below to view the current report:

• Compliance Report FY 2005-2007* 
• Compliance Report FY08*
• Compliance Report FY09*

DC Language Access Act of 2004 and Fact Sheet

Language Access Act	Language Access Act Fact Sheet
English*	English*
Amharic*	Amharic*
Traditional Chinese*	Traditional Chinese*
Korean*	Korean*
Spanish*	Spanish*
Vietnamese*	Vietnamese*
	French*

Questions? Ask the Language Access Director

Should you have any questions after reviewing the information regarding the Language Access Program, please feel free to contact the Language Access Director.

Take the "Know Your Rights" Survey and Pledge