Americans with Disabilities
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ADA Home Page
The Connecticut Judicial Branch has long been
committed to carrying out the objectives of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Title II of the ADA requires public
entities, such as the Connecticut Judicial Branch, to accommodate
individuals with disabilities by providing equal access to their
services, programs, and activities. These web pages have been
designed to assist members of the public with reliable, easy to find
ADA-related information.
Under the ADA, one has a disability if one has a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits a major life activity, if one has a history of
such an impairment, or is perceived to have an impairment. Major
life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself,
performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking,
standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading,
concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
Visiting a Judicial Branch Facility
- I will be visiting a Judicial Branch building. Will there be an accessible entrance?
- I will be visiting a courthouse, but I do not have a court case. Can I still make a request for an accommodation?
- I have a disability and have been summoned for jury service. How do I make a request for an accommodation?
Making a Request for an Accommodation
- May I request an accommodation before I come to court?
- How do I make a request for accommodation?
- Is the Request for Accommodation form available in alternative formats?
- Can I get help filling out the form?
- What information should I include on my Request for Accommodation form?
- Do I have to tell you the nature of my disability?
- Do I need to prove that I have a disability?
- If I provide information about my disability, is it confidential?
ADA-related Assistance and Services
- Can I request specific equipment or services to assist me?
- Can I request that an attorney be provided for my court case?
- Can I request services of a personal nature?
Accommodation Request Review Process
- How long will it take for my request to be reviewed?
- Can my request be denied?
- Why would my request be denied?
- If my request is denied, can I appeal the denial?
- Is there a separate cost for any of these services?
- If I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), does that guarantee that my request for an accommodation will be granted?
Miscellaneous Questions
- What is the role of the ADA contact person?
- Can I file a complaint if I am unhappy with the Judge’s decision on the merits of my case?
- Is the Judicial Branch making any efforts to improve access for people with disabilities?
- Who do I contact if I have any suggestions for improvement?
Visiting a Judicial Branch Facility
1. I will be visiting a Judicial
Branch building. Will there be an accessible entrance?
Yes. Every Judicial Branch facility has an accessible
entrance. If the accessible entrance is not through the
front of the building, please visit the court
directions page on the Branch’s website to find out where it is
located. If you don’t have Internet access, please contact the Clerk’s office.
2. I will be
visiting a courthouse, but I do not have a court case. Can I still
make a request for an accommodation?
Yes.
Anyone with a disability can make a request, whether that person is an
attorney, a party to a case, a juror, or a member of the public who
simply wants to observe court proceedings.
3. I have a
disability and have been summoned for jury service. How do I make
a request for an accommodation?
If you have
been summoned for jury service and need a reasonable accommodation, you
may call Jury Administration at 1-800-842-8175 or you may complete the
JD-JA-030
form.
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Making a Request for an Accommodation
4. May I
request an accommodation before I come to court?
Yes. While a request for an accommodation can
be made at any time, it is best to make the request as far in advance as
one can. If possible, you should give a minimum of ten (10) days
notice.
5. How do I make a request for
accommodation?
A request can be made in
many different ways. You can fill out the
Request for
Accommodation By Persons With Disabilities form that is on the
Judicial Branch website, or you can call the court clerk’s office or
court service center in the
facility that you will be visiting. In addition, you may call or
write a contact person at each facility who can assist you by answering
specific questions about access to services and by processing requests
for accommodations. The list of contact people and
their email addresses are available on the Judicial Branch website.
6. Is the Request for
Accommodation form available in alternative formats?
Yes. The form can be made available in other
formats such as Braille, large print, and audio.
7. Can I get help filling out the form?
Yes. Feel free to ask the
local contact person or any other court personnel to help you.
8. What information should I include on my
Request for Accommodation form?
The
accommodation request must include the full name, address and contact
information of the person making the request. If known, the request
should state the date of the proceeding, the docket number and whether
it is a civil or criminal matter.
9. Do I have to tell you the nature of my
disability?
Yes, the request should state
the nature of the disability that makes an accommodation necessary and
include a suggestion as to what would be a reasonable accommodation for
the disability. Providing this information will allow the person
reviewing your request to better understand the limitation(s) you are
facing, thus providing you with the most appropriate reasonable
accommodation.
10. Do I need to prove that I have a disability?
No, most requests for an accommodation do not require proof. In
some cases, however, it may be necessary to provide additional
information in order for the Judicial Branch to determine whether you
are a “qualified” person with a disability under the ADA and/or to help
identify the most appropriate reasonable accommodation.
11. If I provide information about my
disability, is it confidential?
Yes.
The Judicial Branch is committed to preserving confidentiality.
The information will only be utilized to determine if an accommodation
is needed and identify the most appropriate reasonable accommodation.
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ADA-related Assistance and Services
12. Can I request
specific equipment or services to assist me?
Yes. The Judicial Branch can make available
assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, printed
material in alternate formats, and real time transcription services,
when appropriate. For a complete list of available
equipment and services,
please visit the Judicial Branch’s website, or contact a person at the
facility that you will be visiting.
13. Can I request that an attorney be
provided for my court case?
No. The
ADA does not require the Judicial Branch to provide a lawyer as an
accommodation. However, we invite you to visit or call any of our
Court Service Centers or a
Public Information Desk to
obtain information on more resources.
14. Can I request services of a
personal nature?
No. The ADA does not
require the Judicial Branch to provide services of a personal nature,
such as legal representation, secretarial services, and transportation.
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Accommodation Request Review Process
15. How long will it take for
my request to be reviewed?
All requests are
reviewed immediately. However, in some instances, a request will
require further consideration. You will be notified of the
decision as soon as possible.
16. Can my request be denied?
Yes. Although the Judicial Branch is committed
to ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to the
courts, some requests may be denied.
17. Why would my request be denied?
The ADA does not require that an accommodation be
provided to someone who is not a “qualified” person with a disability.
In addition, the ADA does not require actions that would cause a
"fundamental alteration of a program or service" or would present an
"undue financial or administrative burden". Additionally, the
individual’s physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a
major life activity must be directly related to the accommodation being
sought.
18. If my request
is denied, can I appeal the denial?
Yes.
If your request for an accommodation is denied, or if you do not agree
with the accommodation offered, you can file a grievance/complaint.
The grievance must be filed no later than ten (10) days after the denial
has been made on your request. For additional information about
the grievance process and to find the grievance/complaint form, please
visit the Judicial Branch website or ask for assistance at the
courthouse.
19. Is there a separate cost
for any of these services?
No. As required
under the ADA, it is the Judicial Branch’s responsibility to provide a
reasonable accommodation at no cost to all qualified individuals.
20. If I receive
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), does that guarantee that my request
for an accommodation will be granted?
No.
The definition of disability under the Social Security Administration is
not the same as the definition of disability under the ADA. The
Social Security Administration defines disability in terms of “inability
to perform substantial gainful activity”, by which it means “work paying
minimum wage or better.” The ADA defines it as having, having a
record of, or being perceived as having a “physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits a major life activity.”
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Miscellaneous Questions
21. What is the role of the ADA contact
person?
An ADA Contact Person is available
at each Judicial Branch facility to ensure that members of the public
have an individual at each location who can provide specific information
about accommodations available at that location. The contact
person is not qualified, nor authorized, to act as an ADA attorney,
expert, advocate, or ADA compliance officer.
22. Can I file a
complaint if I am unhappy with the Judge’s decision on the merits of my
case?
No. The ADA Complaint process
is not the appropriate way to challenge a Judge’s decision.
23. Is the Judicial Branch
making any efforts to improve access for people with disabilities?
Yes, the Judicial Branch recognizes the
importance access plays in our court system and the ADA initiative is
always ongoing. An Advisory
Board on the Americans with Disabilities Act was created in
2011 to oversee the ongoing implementation of the recommendations
approved by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator and to offer new
recommendations as appropriate.
24. Who do I contact if I have any
suggestions for improvement?
You may call
the Superior Court Operations Division Coordinator at 860-706-5310 or
you may email your suggestions to ADAProgram@jud.ct.gov.
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