Introduction

Under The Equality Act 2010, we must make sure that all of our services are fair and equally accessible to all our residents and customers.

If someone experiences difficulty accessing the services we offer because they are unable to fully understand the information we have given them, our translation and interpretation service may be able to help.

Our duty

We have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to anyone with a protected characteristic, such as race or disability, to make sure they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage when compared to someone who does not have a protected characteristic.

Language itself is not a protected characteristic, but if someone is treated unfairly for speaking their native language instead of English, they can file a race discrimination or harassment claim.

Reasonable adjustments

A reasonable adjustment is the name we use for something we can put in place to remove a barrier so that someone with a protected characteristic has equal access to our information and services.

In general, to make a reasonable adjustment you could either:

• make a change to an environment, such as a meeting area or workplace
• change the arrangements for an event, such as the time or location
• find a different way to do something, such as communicating important issues
• provide equipment, services or support, such as a hearing loop.

How interpretation services can help

An interpreter can be a reasonable adjustment when someone:

• is d/Deaf and uses British Sign Language
• has a hearing impairment and uses lip speaking
• is living with combined loss of sight and hearing and needs a deaf-blind interpreter
• has little or no English and has an interpreter to help them understand what is being said.

How translation services can help

You can also provide a reasonable adjustment by translating a document into:

• Braille for someone who is blind
• audio for someone who is visually impaired or blind
• Easy Read for someone who needs support in terms of their reading
• another language for a group of people where English is not their first language.