Led by people. Grounded in plain language. Scaled with AI.
USDR provides pro-bono expert support to help state and local governments deliver essential services through multilingual plain language content, user research, and generative AI tools—so everyone can access the benefits they're eligible for.
“Through the responsible use of AI, we are breaking down language barriers and setting a national standard that shows the power of AI can be harnessed to improve government services in ways that are affordable and flexible, and keep human oversight at the core."
Build and nurture digital talent within your own agency.
Build for capacity Empower staff with better tools and processes to get through translation backlogs 3x faster with more consistency
Save time Eliminate communication delays across languages
Translate in hours, not weeks Build internal capacity to deliver multilingual plain language content on-demand without vendor dependencies
USDR ensures that you'll be able to continue the work long after our project is done.
Coaching on how to use generative AI translation tools safely through hands-on workshops
Glossaries and multilingual plain language frameworks grounded in policy compliance and cultural competency, not just direct word-for-word translations
Free translation datasets, prompt libraries, and evaluation rubrics for public benefit programs including unemployment insurance, SNAP, temporary disability, and family leave insurance
USDR can help you serve all members of your community
Culturally relevant, easily understood
Deploy translations that improve comprehension and reduce application errors, not just check compliance boxes
Keeping humans in the loop
Interview residents in your community to identify real barriers and validate plain language
Increase trust and program integrity
Improve service experiences across all languages
We've helped governments build teams that deliver results
How New Jersey is using generative AI to scale their human-centered approach to language access
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development collaborated with U.S. Digital Response to break down language barriers in unemployment insurance-reducing UI application completion time from 3+ hours to 28 minutes. Learn more.
The state of language access in unemployment insurance: through my mom’s lived experience
As USDR develops best practices for language access in unemployment insurance and across social benefits, we wanted to share insights from the field. We hope our experiences will aid agencies in removing language barriers for beneficiaries who speak a primary language other than English. Learn more.
Scaling language access with AI: Arizona pilots prototype translation tool with capacity for 8,000+ human services staff
How Arizona's Department of Economic Security (DES) partnered with USDR to develop human-led, AI-powered plain language translation tools that reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve access to services for SNAP-eligible English and Spanish-speaking residents. Learn more.
Every partnership starts with understanding your specific challenges and constraints. We adapt our approach to match your timeline, capacity, and goals. If you are interested in a deeper partnership and would like to explore alternative resourcing models, please reach out.
Coaching and workshops
- Attend a prompt engineering workshop to learn generative AI translation techniques (no technical background needed)
- Schedule a consultation to assess your needs
- Check out our free translation datasets and implementation guides
- Train your team on translation best practices and workflow management
Pilot and build
- Conduct user research with language diverse residents in your community
- Co-create plain language content with your bilingual staff and community members
- Develop glossaries and translation frameworks for a specific service or
benefit program
- Implement automated quality evaluation tools across multiple services
- Explore how to scale human-centered translations using generative AI
Many USDR talent engagements pair your team with experienced professionals who volunteer their time and expertise.
You'll work alongside:
- Bilingual technologists who understand both technical terminology and cultural context
- AI specialists with experience deploying generative AI responsibly in government settings
- User researchers who know how to engage diverse communities and surface real barriers
Our full-time staff oversee every project from scoping to delivery. You get quality expertise at no cost, with sustainable solutions your team can maintain long after we're gone.
We've developed free resources any government can use to improve language access
Whether you're exploring options, piloting one service, or building a comprehensive program—we'll meet you where you are.
