DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES …

1 DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES agency LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN DATE 2013 2014 I. Introduction The DEPARTMENT of DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES [DDS] is responsible for addressing a variety of issues to ensure that the SERVICES offered to people with intellectual disabilities and their families are of the highest quality. This responsibility is reflected in laws, statutes, and regulations, which establish certain standards, protect the rights of people we serve, and ensure opportunities for them to be involved in making the decisions that affect the quality of their own lives. DDS has prepared this Language Access Plan ( LAP or "Plan"), which defines the actions to be taken by agency to ensure meaningful access to agency SERVICES , programs, and activities on the part of persons who have limited English proficiency.

2 Title VI and Executive Order 13166 requires recipients of federal financial assistance to take reasonable steps to ensure access to their programs and SERVICES by persons who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write or understand English. The agency will review and update, on a biannual basis, this LAP to ensure continued responsiveness to community needs and compliance with Title VI and the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (ANF) Administrative Bulletin 16. II. Purpose The purpose of this plan is to ensure that the agency continues to advance access and equal opportunity for all persons, ensuring Limited English Proficiency access to agency SERVICES , programs, and activities in a nondiscriminatory basis.

3 Consistent with the guidance of ANF Administrative Bulletin 16, a Limited English Proficient ("LEP") person is someone who is not able to speak, read, write, or understand the English language at a level that allows him/her to interact effectively with agency staff. Individuals seeking SERVICES from the agency maintain the right to self-identify as LEP persons. Page 1 of 16 The plan should be viewed as management document that outlines how the agency will maintain compliance with the requirements of the Administrative Bulleting 16 as promulgated by the Executive Order of Administration and Finance. In addition, it will describe how the agency will meet and deliver LAP policy directives, assign responsibility, and provide agency staff with guidance for implementation.

4 III. agency Description The agency s mission is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued members. The DEPARTMENT provides support SERVICES to the following: Adults 18 years or older with intellectual disabilities; People whose permanent primary home is in Massachusetts; People who need assistance to live and work in the community; and, Families with children with a DEVELOPMENTAL disability under 18 years of age who are prioritized for supports The agency is organized by region, please see chart below.

5 Central Office Central West Region Northeast Region Southeast Region Metro Region Facilities Central West Regional Office Northeast Regional Office Southeast Regional Office Metro Regional Office Fernald DEVELOPMENTAL Center Berkshire Central Middlesex Brockton Charles River West Glavin Regional Center Franklin/Hampshire Lowell Cape Cod/Islands Greater Boston Hogan Regional Center Holyoke/Chicopee Merimack Valley Fall River Middlesex West Templeton DEVELOPMENTAL Center North Central Metro North New Bedford Newton/South Norfolk Wrentham DEVELOPMENTAL Center South Valley - Milford North Shore Plymouth South Valley - Southbridge South Coastal Springfield/Westfield Taunton/Attleboro Worcester Page 2 of 16 A description of how the agency is organized is listed below in the following manner, Area Offices, Regional Offices, and Central Office.

6 Area Offices: Most individuals and families have contact with us through their local Area Office. These 23 offices are located throughout Massachusetts. Area Offices are responsible for managing and monitoring the SERVICES we provide/ arrange for individuals served by us and their families who live in the cities/towns covered by the respective Area Office. Functions performed at an Area Office include: information and referral; service coordination/case management; service planning, prioritization and arrangements; licensure and Certification Review complaint resolution; and, citizen and family involvement Regional Offices: Each Area Office reports to one of four Regional Offices.

7 The Regional Offices are geographically located around the state: Central West Region, Northeast Region, Southeast Region, and Metro Region. The Regional Office provides management of the area offices and performs the following regional functions: intake and eligibility determination; Responsible for Risk management procurement and contracts; business, legal and administration; and, informal conferences to resolve disputes about the identification, prioritization, or provision of SERVICES Central Office: Located in Boston at 500 Harrison Avenue, the Central Office oversees all of our functions and operations throughout the state and establishes statewide policies and procedures.

8 These statewide functions include: Page 3 of 16 Commissioner's Office; Community field operations; Diversity/Civil Rights/Equal Opportunity; Finance, budget and contracts; Human rights; Investigations; Legal; Policy, planning and children's SERVICES ; Quality management; and, Volunteers and board membership IV. LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN The DEPARTMENT of DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES LAP shall be implemented to adhere to the Language Access Guidelines of ANF Administrative Bulletin 16. Making a good faith effort to implement the plan as budget constraints allows but always ensuring compliance with the plan is part of the agency s Strategic Plan.

9 This Language Access Plan represents the agency s administrative blueprint to provide meaningful access to agency SERVICES , programs, and activities on the part of LEP individuals. The objectives of this Language Page 4 of 16 Access Plan are to: (a) Improve access to and the quality of agency SERVICES , programs and activities for non-English speakers and LEP persons; (b) Reduce disparities and delays, if any, in the provision of state SERVICES /programs to eligible non-English speakers and LEP persons compared with eligible English speakers; and, (c) Increase agency effectiveness and public satisfaction. Additionally, these Guidelines are meant to establish a common baseline for creating access to non-English speakers and LEP persons.

10 This Language Access Plan below outlines the tasks the agency will undertake to meet this objective. (1). agency Language Access Coordinator: This person is responsible for ensuring that the agency adheres to its language access policy directives, plan, and procedures to provide access to LEP Individuals. The Language Access Coordinator will report to the agency Head or high-ranking manager for successful implementation. The Coordinator is responsible for language assistance SERVICES and may delegate duties but should retain overall responsibility for oversight and implementation of the LAP. Since DDS is an agency with several regional office and 23 area offices there will be assigned individuals designated to assist local LEP Individuals needing access to service.