ineffective treatment plans and poor health outcomes for limited-English-proficient individuals and individuals with communication disabilities such as hearing, vision, or print impairments. (3) The number of limited-English-speaking residents in the United States who speak English less than very well and, therefore, cannot effectively communicate with health and social service providers continues to increase significantly. (4) The responsibility to fund language services in the provision of health care and health-care-related services to limited-English-proficient individuals and individuals with communication disabilities such as hearing, vision, or print impairments is a societal one that cannot fairly be visited solely upon the health care, public health, or social services community. (5) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of race, color, or national origin by any entity receiving Federal financial assistance. In order to avoid discrimination on the grounds of national origin, all programs or activities administered by the Department must take adequate steps to ensure that their policies and procedures do not deny or have the effect of denying limited-English-proficient individuals with equal access to benefits and services for which such persons qualify. (6) Both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require the provision of appropriate auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. The type of auxiliary aid or service necessary to ensure effective communication will vary in accordance with the method of communication used by the individual