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Language Matters

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Health and Language Access

  • Health is influenced by more than just eating healthy, exercising and having a good doctor. Accessing health services in your preferred language also affects your ability to lead a healthy life.
  • The right to receive services in your preferred language is called language access.
  • Language access laws help all New Yorkers know their options and receive the help they need, including health care.
  • More people accessing health care leads to a healthier city for all.
Map of New York City. Text reads “New Yorkers speak more than 200 languages. The top three non-Enlish languages spoken in NYC are Spanish, Russian and Cantonese.” Map of New York City. Text reads “New Yorkers speak more than 200 languages. The top three non-Enlish languages spoken in NYC are Spanish, Russian and Cantonese.”

Your Legal Rights

  • About 4.25 million New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home, and of those, more than half do not speak or read English very well. This is called limited English proficiency (LEP).
  • Regardless of your immigration status or ZIP code, you have the right to receive all City services in your preferred language.
  • New Yorkers who need language assistance can request services in their preferred language at any New York City (NYC) government agency.
Building illustration that has four vertical columns.

These laws protect your right to services in your language:

Building illustration that has four vertical columns.
  • NYC: Local Law 30
  • New York State: Executive Order 26
  • U.S. federal government: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166

Removing Barriers

  • When visiting the Health Department or any NYC government agency, ask for services in your preferred language. Staff can call a professional interpreter for you.
  • You can carry the “I speak” card when you visit NYC government agencies to request free language services.

    Download or print the “I speak” card
Illustration of a card with a blank line to write in your preferred language. Text reads: I speak, with a blank line to fill in your language. Please call an interpreter. Thank you. Icon for translation. NYC Health logo.

Services in Your Language

Language assistance is available for all Health Department services including:

  • Health care at public hospitals and clinics (including Sexual Health Clinics, Immunization Clinics and Tuberculosis Clinics)
  • Access to your vaccine records
  • Mental Health First Aid training
  • Programs at Neighborhood Health Action Centers
  • Birth and death certificate applications

Visit Civic Services to find more City services in your preferred language.

Resources

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