Requests for Accommodations

Legal Requirements 

Accommodation requests will be granted unless providing the requested auxiliary aids or services would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of the Court’s programs, services, or activities or impose undue financial and administrative burdens.

The Court will take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with individuals with disabilities in its programs, services, or activities are as effective as communications with individuals without disabilities, consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), other similar local, state, and federal laws, and Washington Supreme Court General Rule (GR) 33. To meet this obligation, the Court will furnish, at no charge, appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of the Court’s programs, services, or activities. In determining what types of auxiliary aids and services to provide, the Court will give primary consideration to the request of the individual with a disability.

We May Request Records 

The Court may require additional information to properly evaluate an accommodation request. Except for simple requests that can be immediately granted, court personnel will maintain records of requests for auxiliary aids and services. 

Records of requests for auxiliary aids and services will include the following information: the date the request was made, the name of the individual making the request, the name of the individual seeking the auxiliary aids and services, the auxiliary aids and services requested, the date the Court provided a response to the request, a description of the auxiliary aids and services provided, and the date the Court provided the auxiliary aids and services. When the Court declines to provide the requested auxiliary aids and services, the record will also include the date of and reasons for denial of the requested auxiliary aids and services, as well as the name of the decision-maker. 

We will Protect Your Information 

Court personnel will protect the confidentiality of this information and will keep it in a secure location. The request itself and all information provided with the request, including medical and other health information, submitted under a cover sheet provided by the court will be automatically sealed under GR33 (Administrative Office of the Courts Form WPF All Cases 01.0300, Sealed Medical and Health Information Cover Sheet (PDF)). The Court will not disclose information about an individual’s disability or request for auxiliary aids and services except to court personnel who have a need to know the information or as required by law. 

If you provide medical and other health information, you must attach your information to form WPF All Cases 01.0300, Sealed Medical and Health Information (Cover Sheet) (PDF). Your medical and other health information will be automatically sealed (kept private) when you submit the information under the cover sheet. 

Our Decision 

Accommodation requests will be granted unless providing the requested auxiliary aids or services would result in a fundamental alteration to the Court's programs, services, or activities or impose undue financial and administrative burdens. 

The Court will, in writing, or on the record, inform the person requesting an accommodation that the request for accommodation has been granted or denied, in whole or in part, and the nature and scope of the accommodation to be provided if any.  A written decision will be entered in the case/ proceedings file if any, and the Court shall determine whether or not the decision should be sealed. If there are no proceedings filed, the decision shall be entered in the Court's administrative files, and the Court shall determine whether or not the decision should be sealed. 

Grievance Procedure 

Grievance Procedure and Form (PDF)