Central aspects of ensuring access to courts include:

1. General Accessibility:

   The first is to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to address general accessibility concerns, including identifying and removing architectural barriers in courthouses, providing materials in alternative formats, making court websites accessible for people who use assistive technology, and installing listening systems in courtrooms.

2. Individualized Accessibility:

   The second aspect of ensuring access to courts relates to the provision of individualized accessibility to respond to an individual’s needs to ensure equality of opportunity in the administration of justice. This may include providing a sign language interpreter for a person who is deaf, a reader for a witness who is blind, or frequent breaks for a defendant who has a psychosocial disability.

3. Court Facilities:

   Identifying and addressing barriers within the physical or built environment. Modifications might include, for example, making pathways to court buildings accessible (for example, entrance ramps), making accessible corridors, elevators, accessible washrooms, appropriate signage, and addressing courtroom accessibility to enable wheelchair users to participate in proceedings in any role or as observers.

4. Court Programs and Services:

   Identifying and addressing barriers to access in court programs and services. Accommodations and accessibility modifications might include:

   • interpreter services;
   • information on accessible accommodations and how to request them;
   • information on how to file a complaint; and
   • provision of court information in accessible formats.

5. Court Policies:

   Adopting policies and guidelines to promote disability accommodations and accessibility in court facilities, services, and programs. Examples might include:

   • the development of an accommodation request procedure;
   • designating a single point of contact for accommodation requests
   • designing a policy on excusing jurors from service in a way that ensures the inclusion of persons with disabilities;
   • developing emergency evacuation plans for persons with disabilities;
   • establishing procedures for receiving and acting on complaints; and
   • establishing certification or standards on interpreter qualification.