American Disability Act Information

Requesting Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities

If you have a disability and you believe you may need an accommodation to fully and equally participate in a particular court proceeding or activity, you may request a reasonable accommodation.

To request a reasonable accommodation, complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form (this form is available in all courtrooms and public service counters of superior court) and return to any employee of the court. If you need assistance completing this form, read these instructions or contact the ADA Coordinator by phone at (253) 798-3654 or by email.

Granting Accommodation Requests

Accommodation requests are granted to any qualified person with a disability for whom such accommodation is reasonable and necessary under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), other similar local, state and federal laws and Washington State General Rule (GR) 33. Once it has been determined that a request is reasonable and necessary it will be granted unless either of the following situations arise:

• It is impossible for the court to provide the requested accommodation on the date of the proceeding and the proceeding cannot be continued without prejudice to a party to the proceeding.
• It is impractical for the court to provide the requested accommodation on the date of the proceeding and the proceeding cannot be continued without prejudice to a party to the proceeding.

Possible Requirements

You may be required to provide additional information for the court to properly evaluate your reasonable accommodation request. Medical and other health information submitted under the Washington Pattern Form (WPF) All Cases 01.0300, Sealed Medical and Health Information (cover sheet) shall be sealed automatically. If medical and other health information is not submitted under form WPF All Cases 01.0300, Sealed Medical and Health Information (cover sheet), the submitter may ask the court to seal the documents later.

Timeframe

Generally, five day advance notice is required to review reasonable accommodation requests. However, a response to an immediate need for accommodation will be considered to the fullest extent possible. Requests for appointment of attorney’s at court expense are considered only in very limited circumstances of severe cognitive or communicative disabilities which cannot be accommodated in any other way to provide access to the court. Attorney requests necessitate a more extensive evaluation and submission of medical and healthcare documents by the requestor, and will therefore require additional time for review, analysis and a determination.

​Complaint/Grievance Procedure

A written complaint or grievance must be in writing and contain specific information about the alleged discrimination.  The written complaint needs to be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation.  For additional information or questions about the grievance process, please contact the court directly at (253) 798-3654 and ask for the ADA Coordinator.  To register a complaint, please review the Pierce County Superior Court ADA Grievance Procedure - GR 33 and attached ADA Complaint-Grievance Intake Form.

It is the policy of Pierce County Superior Court to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal and full access to the judicial system.