For this month’s Medical Outreach Meeting, Dr. Stephanie Meredith presented on translating resources to other languages such as Haitian Creole. Watch a recording of this meeting below and read on for a summary and helpful links!
Finding Existing Resources
In this meeting, Dr. Stephanie Meredith demonstrated how she looks for resources in different languages using Haitian Creole as an example. Tips she shared include:
- First, check the Lettercase resources to see what translations we have available for you by clicking on the globe in the top right. We have 14 different languages, and for each language, we highlight organizations available in the countries where the language is natively spoken. Unfortunately, we don’t have Haitian Creole yet, but it’s on our wish list!
- See if there are any Down syndrome organizations in countries where the language is spoken (in this case, Haiti) using the Down Syndrome International member lookup tool. In this case, there were no Down syndrome organizations in Haiti.
- MedlinePlus has health information on a number of different conditions in multiple languages and may be a good starting place. In this case, MedlinePlus did not have Haitian Creole resources on Down syndrome.
- Research the up-to-date translation of “Down syndrome” (in this case, “Sendwòm Dawonn”). Google this term and carefully evaluate the credibility of the resources that come up:
- Who is presenting the information? What are their credentials? Prioritize resources that come from educational/advocacy organizations.
- Is the information relevant to families living in the US?
- Are there sources for the information? Are the sources credible?
- Are there photos? Are they representative of the population that speaks the language?
- Does the resource include translated text as opposed to links to English websites?
- Use translation tools like Google Translate to translate several sections of the resource. Is the information accurate and comprehensive? Are the terms appropriate? Are stereotypes and offensive language avoided?
- Send a “bat signal” to all your connections asking if anyone knows of a parent of someone with Down syndrome who speaks the language. In this case, we found that the Pazapa Center for Children with Disabilities works with families speaking Haitian Creole, and this organization may be able to share the Haitian Creole resources they provide to their families with you.
For a more detailed step-by-step guide, watch Dr. Stephanie Meredith’s presentation on how to find resources in a person’s native language:
Translating Resources
If there are not many resources that fit your community’s needs, working with American Translators Association (ATA)-certified translators to translate your own resources is the next best step. Fundraising events and grant funding may be helpful to cover translation and associated costs.
When working with translators, you can give them guidance on sensitive language and terms. Rapid Translate is one option for relatively affordable and fast certified translation services at $27.99 per page of text.
Having a library of online resources in multiple languages is a great way to help families across the US. In addition, this is a great way to make new connections with healthcare providers looking for resources for their patients, and may make these providers more likely to refer their patients to your program in the future.
Translating Information in a Pinch
You may find yourself having to send information to families who speak limited/no English in the short term. While online translation tools are not a substitute for certified translations by a native speaker, these tools may be used in a pinch when there are no other credible options available.
Medical Outreach Meeting members have found that using Chat GPT to translate information to family members is more accurate than sites like Google Translate. When using AI tools, prompt the translation with instructions. For example:
“Translate the following text to Haitian Creole. The purpose of this translation is to provide an informational handout to Haitian parents of children with Down syndrome who do not have a medical background or previous knowledge of Down syndrome. Use simple, sensitive, and family-friendly language. Avoid any derogatory or offensive terms.”
Then, copy and paste the translated text to another service like Google Translate and make sure that it reads well.
For Spanish translations: Ana Ortiz, Program Coordinator and Bilingual Psychologist at the Down Syndrome Association of Houston, has generously offered to help other Down syndrome advocacy leaders review Spanish resources to ensure that they are translated using accurate and sensitive language. In addition, one Spanish-speaking participant has found that DeepL provides accurate Spanish translations.
Tailoring to Your Community
- Look for top language demographics in your area
- Collect data from your organization members through online forms to see what languages are common in your community
- Create email list segments for different language groups to send translated information to families who speak the same language
New Genetic Support Foundation Podcast
In this meeting, Dr. Meredith announced a new Genetic Support Foundation podcast hosted by Dr. Meredith and GSF Executive Director Katie Stoll called CODED: Genetics! Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.
Their latest episode explores the vital role Medicaid plays for individuals with disabilities and genetic conditions. Listen to this episode now by clicking the button below!
