What if I want to enroll participants with limited English proficiency?
You may enroll participants who have limited English proficiency in your research provided that you have the resources to communicate effectively with participants during recruitment, while obtaining consent, and for the duration of the research. You may use a short form as described above in the “How do I document consent or assent?” section to document consent. Please note that you are required to submit to the IRB every time you use a short form. Consult “WORKSHEET: Short Form of Consent Documentation (HRP-317)” and the IRB’s Short Form Consent Information webpage for more information and details on how to submit a short form to the IRB. The IRB Office has also provided Short Form consent templates in several languages along with their certificates of translation for your convenience at the IRB’s Short Form Consent Information webpage.
If you expect to enroll participants with limited English proficiency or if you or your designee will conduct the study internationally, the IRB expects you to translate your approved consent document into the appropriate language for your research. If you are using a commercial translation service, the IRB Office recommends that you first obtain IRB approval for your English-language consent document to reduce translation costs. After you receive approval, translate your document, and submit that document in eIRB+ as a modification, including a Certificate of Translation.
Please note that when appropriate, the IRB Office does accept translations by a native speaker, provided that person has the appropriate language fluency in English and the other language to provide an accurate translation. You must provide documentation equivalent to the Certificate of Translation.