NEWS RELEASE: Michigan.gov/flintwater has key information in American Sign Language and four other languages

FLINT, Mich. – To ensure all communities in Flint have the information they need, the State of Michigan continues to add to its inventory of communication materials. Key informational materials related to the Flint water crisis are available in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Hmong, as well as American Sign Language (ASL).

“It is vital that all Flint residents, regardless of their native language, have access to the information and resources they need during this emergency,” said Governor Rick Snyder.

The Michigan School for the Deaf is located in Flint, and the area is home to a large population of individuals who are deaf. The State is working on making critical information available in American Sign Language, including this video.

“Flint is home to a number of individuals who may not be proficient in English, including a significant community of people who use American Sign Language,” said Agustin Arbulu, Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. “It is critical that they have access to the same important information we’re providing to everyone, in a form they can understand.”

After consulting with community leaders and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the state worked with certified translators to have key documents translated to ensure important information is available to those with no or limited English comprehension.

Translated documents are available in the “Alternative Language Resources: Español – 中文 – ألعربي” area of www.michigan.gov/flintwater. Further, our federal partners have resources available in Spanish, traditional Chinese, simple Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean available at www.epa.gov/flint.

For additional information related to the response in Flint, visit www.michigan.gov/flintwater.

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