In 2013, there were over 25 million people in the United States considered “low English proficiency,” meaning they were over the age of five and did not speak English “very well.” 1 Currently in the United States, 32 million adults, or 14% of the population, cannot read. 2 These are important statistics to keep in mind when providing services.
Automatically Download the Limited English Proficiency Datasheet
Description: This datasheet provides a basic overview of the limited English proficiency population in the United States, including native languages spoken and population distribution by state.
Register to Access the Guide Here
Description: This guide will help you and your organization provide effective communication and language assistance services to culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.
Diversity Toolkit English Language Learners
Description: This toolkit lays out strategies for creating a more accommodating educational environment for English language learners.
Description: This interdisciplinary guide serves as a portal to library and online resources related to English for speakers of different languages. The guide divides materials based on level of English proficiency and has a range of materials including books and video clips.
Description: This guide lists strategies for providing culturally competent care during care transitions. One subsection focuses on the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services and suggests strategies for hiring diverse staff, keeping translators on staff, and translating agency forms.
Description: This page provides a brief summary of a larger health literacy text. The book can be downloaded on the webpage and talks specifically about improving communication between healthcare providers and individuals with low to average literacy rates.
Description: This page provides tips for simplifying language to make resources and services more widely accessible. Tips include identifying target audiences, soliciting feedback, using appropriate vocabulary, and keeping sentences short.
Planning an Adult Literacy Program
Establishing an Adult Literacy Program
Description: These free resources from Kansas University provide strategies for organizations looking to create and implement an adult literacy program.
Description: Literacy Texas provides free instruction and training to improve the quality of adult literacy education in Texas. Their video training library features a series of Youtube trainings on reaching ESL learners through competent and engaging instruction.
Description: This organization is committed to promoting and improving literacy in Central Texas. Programs include PALS, a bilingual parenting program, The Learning Center, which provides basic adult education classes, and Literacy Forward Central Texas, which provides training to instructors to ensure quality education.
Resources for New Immigrants Page
Description: The library provides a series of resources for new immigrants, including English classes, citizenship classes, newcomer cultural basics, and computer classes. All of these resources and materials are available in a variety of languages.