"In the Absence of Words" : Shared Stories
All too often, the voices of those struggling with the English language are silenced, ignored or misunderstood in the health care system. PALS for Health is proud to share this collection of personal stories from our Language Ambassadors and interpreters, whose powerful narratives, told in their own imagery and voices, are featured in this storybook.
Each of the Language Ambassadors has completed a twelve-hour training in public speaking, language rights and advocacy. Through this process, the Ambassadors capture and convey their own personal experiences navigating the health care system as Limited-English Proficient individuals.
These diverse stories will inform other immigrants about health care rights, enhance understanding of culturally competent care among health providers and policy makers, and increase awareness of Limited-English Proficient issues in the broader community. More importantly, the storybook is a memento for the Language Ambassadors to commemorate their courage and powerful roles in making the issue of culturally and linguistically competent care increasingly visible. It is through their self-empowerment that this issue is pushed to the forefront of the political and health care agenda.
Each of the Language Ambassadors has completed a twelve-hour training in public speaking, language rights and advocacy. Through this process, the Ambassadors capture and convey their own personal experiences navigating the health care system as Limited-English Proficient individuals.
These diverse stories will inform other immigrants about health care rights, enhance understanding of culturally competent care among health providers and policy makers, and increase awareness of Limited-English Proficient issues in the broader community. More importantly, the storybook is a memento for the Language Ambassadors to commemorate their courage and powerful roles in making the issue of culturally and linguistically competent care increasingly visible. It is through their self-empowerment that this issue is pushed to the forefront of the political and health care agenda.
