A bill passed last year required health care providers to work with OHA-certified interpreters in order for patients to have accurate translations. But advocates say this has excluded indigenous speakers from Central and South America.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Oregon now requires health care providers to work with OHA-certified interpreters in order for patients to have accessible, accurate translations, after a bill passed in the legislature last year. But advocates say this new system has excluded Indigenous speakers of languages from places like Mexico and Guatemala because of the certification requirements. Puma Tzoc is the coordinator for the Collective of Indigenous Interpreters of Oregon and a speaker of the K’iche’ language. Cam Coval is the executive director of Pueblo Unido PDX. They both join us now to share how this new state law has affected interpreters in Oregon and their hopes for the future.
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