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Accessibility and Disability
It is the intent of the D.C. Courts to provide accessibility to services, programs and activities (offered by the D.C. Courts,) to any qualified participant, applicant, or member of the public with a disability, upon reasonable notice (when necessary) and without requiring action which would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program or activity or in undue financial or administrative burden. Americans With Disabilities Act Of 1990:How to Request Accommodations:Employees and Job ApplicantsUnder the ADA a qualified employee with a disability can request reasonable accommodations so the employee can perform their job. A job applicant can request reasonable accommodations for tests that are administered as part of the application process. To request reasonable accommodations contact the Chief ADA Coordinator or complete and submit the form for requesting an accommodation. Court UsersThe D.C. Courts are wheelchair accessible. We also are accessible to other persons with special needs. To make arrangements for an accommodation, please contact the appropriate person listed below. Who to Contact:ADA and accessibility issues in general: D.C. Court of Appeals: Committee on Admissions (D.C. Bar Exam): Sign Language Interpreting
and Real-time Captioning: Assistive Listening Devices: Jury Service: Crime Victims Compensation Program: Domestic Violence Coordinating Unit: Human Resources: Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division: How to Get an Access Decision Reviewed
Accessible Architectural Features of and Technologies Offered By the District of Columbia CourtsTo provide an equal opportunity for court users with disabilities to participate in court proceedings and court services, events, and programs the District of Columbia Courts conducted three formal self-assessments of court facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, assessments have been conducted by disability advisory committees. In addition to these assessments, as part of the Judiciary Square Master Space Plan process existing court facilities and their conditions were documented. Renovation and construction projects were planned and scheduled based upon projected needs and funding. The removal of barriers is one component of each of these projects. Courtrooms present a unique set of challenges because of raised elements that are rooted in history and culture. Each change in elevation presents a barrier to persons with disabilities. Some of the architectural barriers have been addressed in our courtrooms include:
Some of the elements that have been made accessible in the D.C. courthouses include:
Again, all barriers have not been removed at this time, but will be addressed as the various renovation projects are completed. Because some of the projects are retrofits sometimes is not physically possible to remove a barrier in accordance with the accessibility guideline that would apply to new construction. Questions about the suitability of a particular courtroom or other court facility can be directed to H. Clifton Grandy, Chief ADA Coordinator, Executive Office, at 879-1700 or Mary Ann Satterthwaite, Chief Projects Manager, at 879-2898. Architectural barriers are not the only barriers to court services faced by persons with disabilities. To address some of these disabilities the D.C. Courts have useful technologies that can help. These include:
To arrange to use any of these technologies contact Francis X. Burton in the Office of Court Interpreting Services at 879-1492, Michael Simms or Alvin Milton in the Courtroom Technologies Office at 879-1230, or Suzanne Bailey-Jones in the Juror Office at 879-4604. D.C. Relay ServiceThe D.C. Relay Service facilitates communications between persons who use a text telephones (TTY) and persons who use a voice telephone. A person who is either deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech disabled types his or her conversation using a TTY. A Communications Assistant at the D.C. Relay Service relays the written material from the TTY to the hearing person by reading it over a voice telephone. For the other end of the conversation the Communications Assistant relays the hearing person's spoken words verbatim by typing them to the TTY user. The D.C. Relay Service also has Communications Assistants who are bilingual (Spanish). The Communications Assistant is a trained professional in relaying conversations. The Communications Assistant maintains strict confidentiality about the conversation under professional ethics, company policy, and Federal Communications Commission regulations. Contact Information Spanish Reports
Web Accesiblity PledgeThe D.C. Courts' website was developed for D.C.-area residents and others interested in the District of Columbia Courts. We strive to make it as accessible as possible and keep that goal in mind when developing web pages and adding content. Also, our Information Technology Division periodically tests the website, using on-line accessibility tools, to help ensure that it continues to meet accessibility standards. If you encounter any difficulties or have any comments or feedback, please send an email to us at webmaster@dcsc.gov. We will consider all suggestions for improvement and make whatever changes are reasonably possible. We appreciate your input. |
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