Cultural competency is a process, not an achievement
Do you know your ABCs? AI, Bias, & Cultural Competency
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” —Goethe
Last week, Wired published an opinion piece by Yaël Eisenstat. She poses a deep question about the path we’re on with AI—“Has anyone stopped to ask whether the humans that feed the machines really understand what bias means?” Where to begin? Start a conversation—provide a forum for safe and honest dialogue with tech people and the diverse communities we serve.
Next, embrace the principles of equal access.
To design a culturally competent system, we have to check our perceptions and understand bicultural groups. Can we recognize that racial and ethnic populations have to be at least bicultural, and that this creates unique conditions that “the system” must be equipped to respond to?
Ex: In healthcare, our service provides access to communication. Practice is driven in the service delivery system by language proficiency, not by culturally blind or culturally free interventions. Standards for delivery are backed by solid policy ensuring meaningful access for those with limited English proficiency (section 1557 civil rights provision of the Affordable Care Act).
Cultural competency is a process, not an achievement.
