The N.C. Department of Information Technology's Language Access Plan aims to provide guidance to staff and establish a roadmap to support meaningful access to the department’s services, programs and opportunities for people using languages other than English. It also outlines strategies to eliminate language barriers, such as providing interpretation, translation, staff training and public outreach.

North Carolina is home to more than 1.2 million people who use languages other than English. Of those, more than 450,000 are limited English proficient (LEP), and more than 860,000 are foreign-born. Given the state’s growing cultural and linguistic diversity, language access and digital opportunity are the cornerstones of building a cohesive, safe, resilient and vibrant community that allows individuals using languages other than English to contribute their talents and skills.

NCDIT commits to language access and digital equity by:

• Serving all individuals who use languages other than English and providing free, timely, culturally competent and high-quality language access services
• Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse audiences more effectively and eliminating barriers to service
• Expanding NCDIT’s ability and expertise in supporting multilingual digital content and increasing access for individuals using languages other than English to digital resources, programs and services
• Closely monitoring progress across its divisions, programs and grantees, and supporting department-wide efforts to meet compliance standards
• Proactively building the skills and knowledge of all staff, including multilingual staff, to ensure they are equipped to communicate with and serve individuals who speak languages other than English
• Embedding in the department’s culture an understanding that language access, digital opportunity, and culturally and linguistically responsive service delivery are essential to the department’s ability to fulfill its mission