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OLA Services
Our goal is to find ways to address language access gaps found throughout the City by providing the following services:- Translation services for event mailing announcements, essential documents, emergency notifications, flyers, etc.
- Interpretation services for City-sponsored events, programs, activities, and documents.
- Improved language accessibility to make content understandable to everyone, including those with disabilities.
- Access to technology that provides new opportunities to better deliver translation and interpretation services.
OLA ensures that departments are equipped to communicate effectively with residents who need services and aid in plain language, target language, and language accessibility.
Email us at OLA@kcmo.org or call us at (816) 513-1030
Have a language access request?
We offer language access services for City-sponsored events and informational purposes. You can visit our Language Access Request form. After filling out the form, click the submit button at the bottom of the page to send the form to our mailbox (OLA@kcmo.org). This form is available in multiple languages listed below:
- Language Access Form
- Yêu cầu tiếp cận ngôn ngữ để thông dịch (Vietnamese)
- စကားပြန်အတွက် အသုံးပြုခွင့်တောင်းဆိုခြင်း (Burmese)
- 语言无障碍口译请求 (Chinese Simplified)
- Solicitud de Acceso Lingüístico para Interpretación (Spanish)
- Kahilingan sa Pag-access sa Wika para sa Interpretasyon (Tagalog)
- इंटरप्रटेशन के लिए भाषा एक्सेस अनुरोध (Hindi)
- የቋንቋ መዳረሻ ጥያቄ ለትርጓሜ (Amharic)
- طلب الحصول على خدمات الترجمة الفورية (Arabic)
- Codsiga Helitaanka Luuqadda ee Fasiraadda (Somali)
- Ombi la Ufikiaji wa Lugha la Tafsiri (Swahili)
Your feedback matters!
We prioritize the voices of our community, and we invite you to send us your feedback and suggestions. Your input is crucial to our mission of creating an inclusive environment where everyone is heard and respected.
Kindly take a moment to contribute your thoughts through our OLA Suggestion Box available in multiple languages listed below:
- OLA Suggestion Box
- Hộp thư góp ý OLA (Vietnamese)
- OLA အကြံပြုချက်သေတ်တာပုံး (Burmese)
- OLA 建议箱 (Mandarin)
- Buzón de Sugerencias de OLA (Spanish)
- Kahon ng Mungkahi ng OLA (Tagalog)
- OLA सुझाव पेटी (Hindi)
- Sanduuqa Talo-bixinta ee OLA (Somali)
- የOLA ሃሳብ መስጫ ሳጥን (Amharic)
- Kisanduku cha Maoni cha OLA (Swahili)
- OLA တၢ်ပာ်ဖျါတၢ်ထံၣ်တလါ (Karen)
- صندوق اقتراحات مكتب الوصول اللغوي (Arabic)
We thoroughly review each submission, and add viable ideas to our action plan. Your collaboration is vital to our shared vision.
Thank you for helping us make Kansas City a better place for all!
Accessible web: OLA is leading a City-wide project to ensure kcmo.gov and other City websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ahead of the federal compliance deadline in April 2026.
Translation & ADA tools: Thanks to OLA, kcmo.gov now feature a translation tool and an ADA accessibility widget, helping residents access information in their preferred language and use assistive technologies with ease.
Follow the Office of Language Access on Facebook!
Stay connected with us to learn about upcoming events, community resources, and initiatives that make Kansas City more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
👉 Visit us at: OLA Facebook Page
Everyone Belongs in the Conversation
🎉 Exciting News from the KCMO Office of Language Access! 🎉
We're thrilled to share our progress in making Kansas City a truly inclusive and welcoming community! Check out what we've been up to and celebrate these achievements with us:
🔹 Accessible web: OLA is leading a City-wide project to ensure kcmo.gov and other City websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ahead of the federal compliance deadline in April 2026.
🔹 Translation & ADA tools: Thanks to OLA, kcmo.gov now feature a translation tool and an ADA accessibility widget, helping residents access information in their preferred language and use assistive technologies with ease.
🔹 Instant interpreter support: Immediate help via phone or video for those needing language assistance with City services.
🔹 Inclusive meetings: Ensuring everyone can participate in public meetings and events with our in-person interpreter services.
🔹 Clear communication: All City documents undergo a plain language review, making them easy to find, understand, and use.
🔹 Ongoing learning: We offer plain language training and workshops to improve city communication long-term.
🔹 Accessible web: We are ensuring our City websites are clear and navigable for all users.
🔹 Welcoming City Certification: Proud participant in making our City a true welcoming destination. We are building a more inclusive Kansas City!
🔹 Tech exploration: We're continuously exploring new tech solutions to bridge language gaps in City services.
🔹 Empowering staff: Equipping our team with the best tools and technology to support our multilingual communities.
🔹 Supporting job seekers: Aiding everyone in understanding and navigating the City's hiring process.
Together, we're creating a Kansas City where everyone feels at home.