One in three residents of King County speaks a language other than English at home according to U.S. Census data. For these residents, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s small but mighty Language Access team opens doors to services and information to help them make decisions about their health for themselves and their families. We wanted to know what makes the Language Access program’s approach unique, so we talked to Claudia who manages the linguists in this program.
Hi Claudia! Your team works with translators and interpreters who live locally. How does that make a difference to the quality of language service they provide?
When the translator or interpreter is a resident of King County, they know very specific vocabulary, they know the community and they know their needs. When we say “Pike Place Market,” they know how to translate that. They create word pictures that make it easier for people in the community to understand the concepts.
It makes a huge difference in how the community receives the translations. The ones done locally are richer because they are done with the kind of knowledge and passion that someone rooted in the community brings!
How would you describe your approach to working with local translators and interpreters?
Our relationships with the local linguists are so important. They’re built on trust and honest communication, on honoring their skills. We have monthly professional development meetings so that they can build on those skills. For example, we’ve created a library of recorded sessions where linguists share about the nuances of translating in their languages and share about their cultures.
Why do you put so much effort into having good relationships with them?
Ultimately, they are the link to the communities because they are part of the communities we need to reach. The residents of King County— the ones that receive their translations or their interpretation services— are going to benefit from our close relationship with the local linguists.
Why is doing language access work meaningful to you?
Being an immigrant, I had to navigate different worlds from a very young age. I saw other people struggle, and especially children having to be put in the position of having to interpret and translate for their families. It’s such a tangible reward when you can deliver a translation that is going to reach a community that might be isolated, that might be thirsty for information.
Is there anyone who was a big influence on you?
When I started preschool, I was very, very shy. My preschool teacher was blind and he had a felt board with these fruit shapes. He said, “Can somebody be my eyes today?” I volunteered, and he told me, “I’m going to say the names in English and then you have to put the fruit on the board.” I remember he would trace them with his finger to see if I was correct or not, and I got all of my fruits right.
He said to me, “You are going to be so good at English. You’re going to learn and be an expert and a teacher!” He gave me such confidence and from that point forward, I was obsessed with learning English. And that’s where my passion for learning other languages came from!
More information
Learn more about Public Health’s Language Access program on our Office of Equity and Community Partnerships page.
Originally posted on August 10, 2026.
Want more insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County? Subscribe to the Public Health Insider from the link at the bottom of the page (mobile) or on the upper right corner of this post (desktop).