NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticut’s Morning Buzz Reporter Jillian Andrews, recently sat down with Melissa Alers, Translation Services Coordinator for ACES Translation Services, to talk about the important work her department does for the community. It’s all centered on bridging language barriers and fostering greater parental involvement in their children’s education. This is especially important when students are multilingual learners.

Alers shed light on the invaluable services her department offers, ranging from written translation to verbal interpretation for various documents and meetings. Emphasizing their primary focus on supporting multilingual families within the school system, Alers highlighted the importance of enabling parents to actively participate in their children’s educational journey.

Alers also delved into the significance of the Parent’s Bill of Rights, recently passed in Connecticut, which ensures that multilingual learners and their families have access to school communications and bilingual programs. This legislation aims to provide families with the necessary resources and support in their native language, ultimately contributing to student success and fostering a sense of inclusivity within schools. Watch the full interview above to learn more.

Alers also announced an upcoming workshop, “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: The Art of Interpreting with Cultural Sensitivity and Skill,” scheduled for March 25^th from 9am – 3 pm. Geared towards educators and administrators involved in interpretation for multilingual families, the workshop aims to provide insights into cultural influences on interpretation and will navigate sessions using the interpreter code of ethics. Interested individuals can learn more or sign up for the workshop through the ACES website at aces.org/services/translation-services.