ADA Policy and Procedures

If you have a disability you may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in a court proceeding.

Requests for accommodation for people with disabilities must meet all the requirements of General Court Rule 33.

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?

Reasonable accommodations help people with disabilities to more fully and meaningfully participate in court proceedings.

A reasonable accommodation could be, but is not limited to:

  • A sign language interpreter.
  • Changes to a courtroom’s layout to improve lighting, hearing, or mobility.
  • Large print or high contrast documents and forms.
  • Extended time for hearings and recesses.
  • Assistive listening and seeing devices.

Request Accommodation

  1. Complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form.  
    If you have questions or need help completing the form, please contact an ADA Coordinator or call the Clerk’s Office at (564) 397-2292 or (564) 397-2287. 
    Your request will become public record and can be viewed by the public and other court participants.
     
  2. Submit the completed form to an ADA Coordinator. 
    Please submit your request at least 5 days before your court date. Requests received later than that will only be considered and granted if possible.

    Superior Court
    Pamela Hartman Beyer, ADA Coordinator
    Clark County Superior Court, PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000
    (564) 397-2150, Relay Service 711 or (800) 833-6388
    Fax (564) 397-6078
    Superior.CourtADA@clark.wa.gov 

    District Court
    Bryan Farrell, ADA Coordinator
    Clark County District Court, PO Box 9806, Vancouver, WA 98666-8906
    (564) 397-2424, Relay Service 711 or (800) 833-6388 
    District.CourtADA@clark.wa.gov
     
  3. Provide more information if necessary.
    More medical or health information may be requested by the Court to determine the need and type of accommodation. You may be asked by the Court to submit form “Sealed Medical and Health Information WPF All Cases 01.033”  that shall be sealed automatically by the Court and will not be available to the public.

Notice of Accommodation

An ADA coordinator will review your form and notify you of the decision to approve or deny your request by contacting you in the manner you requested and by sending you a written Notice of Accommodation.

The notice will tell you about the type of accommodation that was approved and who to contact to receive the accommodation. If your request for an accommodation was not approved, the notice will tell you why and explain the appeal process to you.

A request for an accommodation will be granted unless:

  • The person requesting application has failed to satisfy the substantive requirements of this rule.
  • 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.
  • It would cause undue burden to the county.
  • It would fundamentally alter the court proceeding.
  • It would threaten someone’s safety or well-being.

View a sample review and decision by court.

For more information on decision requirements and process, view General Court Rule 33.

  Grievance Process

If a request for accessibility accommodation is denied by the ADA Coordinator, the applicant may appeal the administrative decision.  All decisions made by the assigned judge or ADA facilitator regarding court proceeding accommodation requests are final and cannot be administratively grieved.

 

Forms and Documents

Forms 
Forms are provided in PDF format.  You may print the form and complete it with a pen.

Documents