Americans with Disabilities Act

Accommondation Process

The Rhode Island Judiciary will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to employment. In addition, the Judiciary will provide reasonable accommodations upon request to individuals with disabilities so that they can access the programs, services, and proceedings of the courts. The Judiciary can provide assistive listening systems and devices upon advance request to individuals with disabilities; however, the Judiciary does not have the obligation to provide personal services and devices, such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids to access the courts.

The Judiciary consists of the unified state court system and does not include municipal or probate courts. If you need an accommodation for a municipal or probate court matter, you need to contact the local court directly.

Employees

The Rhode Island Judiciary is an equal opportunity employer and employees and potential employees should contact the Employee Relations Office at (401) 222-2700 and the ADA Office at ada@courts.ri.gov to arrange for a workplace accommodation.

Court Users (Litigants, Attorneys, Witnesses, Potential Jurors, and Others)

1. An individual with a disability or his/or attorney (if any) should notify court staff of the need for an accommodation in advance as soon as it is known as accommodation is needed by completing the Request Form for Sign Language Interpreters, Assistive Listening Equipment, or Other ADA Accommodation Accommodation. Contact can be made via email to ada@courts.ri.gov, in writing, in person, or over the telephone through voice numbers, through court TTY numbers, or RI RELAY at 7-1-1 (TTY).
   
2. The completed form should be given to court staff assigned to the particular court or program as listed in the Contact Person by Court and Location.
3. The court staff person will then forward the request to the appropriate persons to coordinate the accommodation.
4. Court staff shall notify the requester whether the request can be filled no later than two (2) business days prior to the court hearing or meeting, if feasible.
5. State Law Library Users: Please see the Rhode Island State Law Library Policy Statement for Individuals with Disabilities.
6. Sign Language Interpreter Services: Interpreter requests should be made by filling out the Request Form for Sign Language Interpreters, Assistive Listening Equipment, or Other ADA Accommodation as soon as possible in advance. If more than one individual in the same case needs a sign language interpreter, that other person should also make a request noting whether they can share one or need different interpreters.
7. Any cancellations or changes to a court date with a scheduled interpreter should be forwarded to the ADA office as soon as possible so as not to incur cancellation charges.

Questions, comments, or complaints about the accommodation process can be directed to:

Erika Kruse Weller, Esquire
General Counsel and ADA Coordinator
Licht Judicial Complex
Providence, Rhode island 02903
(401) 222-3266 or through RI RELAY at 7-1-1
ada@courts.ri.gov

For further information on the ADA and accessibility matters, see the Rhode Island Governor's Commission on Disabilities at www.disabilities.ri.gov or the federal ADA website at www.ada.gov.