• Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Engagement Methodology
  • Step 1 – Port-wide Language Access Survey – Key Findings
  • Step 2 – Community Partner Language Access Survey – Key Findings
  • Step 3 – Language Access Learning Cohort
  • Cohort Participants
  • Cohort Curriculum and Training
  • Cohort Recommendations
  • Recommendations
  • Appendix (PDF format & links)
  • A. Port-wide Survey
  • B. Community Survey
  • C. Cohort Participants
  • D. Language Access Department Plan
  • E. Glossary
  • Introduction
  • Engagement Methodology
  • Key Findings
    • The top eight findings from the Port-wide Survey are noted below.
    • 1. All External Relations (ER) teams (100%) and most other departments (83%) interact or communicate with the public or LEP individuals. As expected, External Relations and Aviation departments reported the highest level of frequency and engagement wi...
    • Port of Seattle interaction with LEP individuals
    • 8. Most common languages encountered by Port team members in their LEP interactions were identified. For both External Relations and all other departments, Spanish is clearly the most prevalent of the non-English languages identified. Eight other lang...
    • Languages used/requested through other Departments:
    • Most common languages in King County:
    • King Couty’s language tiers reflect the needs of LEP populations in King County, and their guidelines for document translation. Five different sources were used to identify the 20 most common language needs in King County. These languages are ranked i...
    • Step 2 – Community Survey (complete survey shared in Appendix B)
      • Step 3 – Language Access Learning Cohort
    • Building the Language Access Cohort
      • Department representatives participating in the Language Access Cohort were engaged and supportive in sharing what they understand as formal and informal policies and procedures. Department staff are striving to serve LEP individuals with the resourc...
      • When employees are assisting individuals in need, there can emotional and stressful. For example, if a passenger leaves a passport on the plane and then can’t communicate effectively to figure out how to retrieve it. Front line staff demonstrate high ...
        • 3. There are many barriers to accessing interpretation and translation services.
        • Aviation Customer Service currently manages an American Sign Language for the Airport with Customer Service and a contract with the Language Line. External Relations also holds two contracts for Interpretation and translation services, to support Hum...
        • Additionally, when other departments and teams are interested in accessing these services, this puts added pressure on the contract manager to accommodate the requests. The current demand is light to moderate, so this should not be a pressing issue, h...
        • Additionally, language access expenses vary from department to department; a few departments have allocated funds in their 2024 budget others do not have language access factored into their budgets. Because many departments have not allocated funds to...
      • APPENDIX
      • A. Port wide departments survey
  • B. Community survey
  • C. Cohort participants
  • D. Departmental Language Access Plan template
  • E. Glossary