The purpose of the Language Access Plan (LAP) is to provide guidance to AIJ staff to ensure equal access to the services provided by the Alaska Institute for Justice for LEP individuals and individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. AIJ provides language access for LEP individuals and individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing because AIJ’s mission is to protect and promote the human rights of all Alaskans. AIJ’s Language Access Plan is a critical component of this mission and ensures that all Alaskans have access to the services provided by AIJ. AIJ also receives federal funding and must ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. National origin discrimination includes not providing services to LEP people.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, provides specifically that no person shall “on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Non-compliance with Title VI can jeopardize a program’s federal funding. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rather than Title VI of the Civil Rights Act