Language and Communications Access office highlights departmental plans, tech and training as demand grows
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Summary
Jennifer Robert Wong of the Office of Language and Communications Access told the Ways and Means committee the office funds interpretation and accessibility citywide, has 13 full‑time staff, has trained more than 4,000 city employees, and is building a multilingual dashboard and device program to expand access.
Jennifer Robert Wong, representing the City of Boston’s Office of Language and Communications Access (LCA), told the Ways and Means committee that LCA serves as the city's centralized funder for interpretation, translation and accessibility technology and has expanded services as demand rose.
Wong said the office has 13 full‑time staff and two interns, and that LCA has “trained over 4,000 employees.” She described three core uses of LCA operating funds: comprehensive language services (contracts for interpretation/translation), equipment and technology (iPads, simultaneous interpretation cases, Transit Live devices), and an internship pathway.
Wong noted that LCA published 20 departmental language and communications access plans and that emergency alerts are sent in 11 city threshold languages in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management. LCA is piloting a multilingual “welcoming city” setup at first‑floor teller stations with rights posters and iPads to summon interpreters on demand. The office plans to publish a multilingual dashboard showing accommodations used and spending across departments.
Why it matters: Councilors pressed LCA on capacity for specific languages and how the office pairs vendors with departments. Councilor Flynn asked whether Cantonese speakers were on staff; Wong said Cantonese and Mandarin speakers work in the office. LCA staff described vendor partnerships with community organizations such as the Asian American Civic Association, Vietnamese American Civic Association and community translation partners to improve cultural competence of translations.
Discussion versus action: LCA provided the committee with program data and FY26 operating priorities. No formal budget votes were taken at the hearing; LCA staff requested continued funding for contracted services, technology and departmental LCA specialists.
Ending: LCA asked councilors and departments to continue using the office’s centralized contracting and to share data about emergent language needs so the dashboard and vendor capacity can be adjusted.
