ADA Accommodations Request
Right to Reasonable Accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in a Court proceeding or other Court service, program, or activity, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to certain assistance.
Requests for accommodations may be presented on the attached form, in another written format, or orally. If you need assistance in completing this form due to your disability, or to request this document in an alternate format, please contact the Court Administrator of the Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probate Divisions, One Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor, Bryan, OH 43506, or email ronda.muehlfeld@wmsco.org or fax at (419) 636-5405. Please submit Requests for Accommodations promptly and preferably at least seven (7) days before your scheduled Court appearance or Court activity.
ADA Accommodations Provided by the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate Divisions
Pursuant to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate Divisions will make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures, furnish auxiliary aids and services; and afford program accessibility through the provision of accessible facilities, the relocation of services or programs, or the provision of services at alternative sites, as appropriate and necessary.
Examples of auxiliary aids or services that the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate Divisions may provide for qualified individuals with disabilities include:
- Assistive listening devices
- Qualified ASL or other types of interpreters for persons with hearing loss
- Communication access real-time translation/Real-time transcription services
- Accessible formats such as large print, Braille, electronic document, or audio tapes
- Qualified readers
Services the Court Cannot Grant as ADA Accommodations
Examples of aids or services the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate Divisions cannot provide as accommodation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act:
- Transportation to and from the Courthouse
- Legal counsel or advice
- An official transcript of a Court proceeding
- Personal devices such as hearing aids or prescription eyeglasses
- Personal services such as medical or attendant care
- Readers for personal use or study
Additionally, the Court cannot administratively grant as an ADA accommodation requests that impact Court procedures within a specific case. Requests for extension of time, a change of venue, or participation in Court proceedings by telephone or videoconferencing must be submitted by written motion to the Presiding Judge or Magistrate as part of the case. The Judge or Magistrate may consider an individual’s disability along with other relevant factors in granting or denying the motion.
Furthermore, the Court cannot exceed the law in granting a request for an accommodation. For example, the Court cannot extend the statute of limitations for filing an action because someone claims that he or she could not make it to the Court on time due to a disability, nor can the Court modify the terms of agreements among parties as an ADA accommodation.
Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the Court system to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of the Court programs, services, or activities, or that would impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the Courts.
Request for Documentation in Granting an ADA Accommodation
If an individual has a disability that is not obvious, or when it is not readily apparent how a requested accommodation relates to an individual’s impairment, it may be necessary for the Court to require the individual to provide documentation from a qualified health care provider in order for the Court to fully and fairly evaluate the accommodation request. This information request will be limited to documentation that (a) establishes the existence of a disability; (b) identifies the individual’s functional limitations; and (c) describes how the requested accommodation addresses those limitations. Any cost to obtain such documentation is the obligation of the person requesting the accommodation.
Complaint/Grievance Process
If you have requested a reasonable accommodation to participate in a Court proceeding, service, or other case related activity and feel that you have been discriminated against based upon a disability, you may request a meeting with the Presiding Judge of the Williams County Common Pleas Court in order to discuss your position and request re-consideration. This internal Complaint/Grievance Process does not prohibit you from filing a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, United States Department of Justice, or any other agency.
Retaliation against any individual who files a complaint or grievance regarding discrimination or assists in an investigation of complaints is prohibited.