How to Ask for a Reasonable Accommodation of Your Disability from the Office of Administrative Hearings

• Intro
• What is “requesting an accommodation”?
• What is a reasonable accommodation?
• How can I get an accomodation?
• Can OAH deny my reasonable accommodation request?
• What are some examples of accommodations?
• How do I ask for an accommodation?
• What if OAH denies my request for accommodation?
• Where can I get legal help?

Intro

OAH must make sure its services and hearings are fully available to all persons with disabilities. OAH may need to change the way it handles a hearing or communicates with you to make sure you have the same chance to take part in a hearing as someone without disabilities.

 

What is “requesting an accommodation”?

If you need extra help from OAH to take part fully in its proceedings, you can ask OAH to change its rules or policies or give you help to meet the needs your disability creates. This is “requesting a reasonable accommodation of a disability.” Use the ADA Accommodation Request Form to ask for an accommodation.

Under state and federal law, OAH must approve your request for accommodation if it is “reasonable” and needed to meet your disability-created needs. OAH’s refusal to “reasonably accommodate” that disability is discrimination.

 

What is a reasonable accommodation?

1. cost so much that OAH cannot afford it, or will take too much time or effort

or

2. really change how OAH does hearings or proceedings

 

How can I get an accommodation?

You must show that you have a disability AND the accommodation you asked for is connected to your disability.

 

Can OAH deny my reasonable accommodation request?

Only if what you asked for is unreasonable and unnecessary. This means any of these:

• You do not need what you asked for.  It is not connected to your disability. Example: You ask OAH to schedule your hearing in the late afternoon. Your disability is vision impairment. A preference to have the hearing later in the day has nothing to do with your vision. 

• What you asked OAH to do costs too much. They cannot afford it.

• It will take so much time or effort for OAH that it is too much of a burden.

• Your request will drastically change how OAH does things.

If OAH does not agree to a request for accommodation, OAH must show the accommodation is unreasonable.   

 

What are some examples of accommodations?

Here are a few:

• having an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter or real-time transcription services if you are deaf or have a hearing impairment

• getting paperwork in large print or Braille if you are blind or have vision problems

• having a qualified reader read paperwork for you or providing audio recordings if you cannot read

• having the hearing in a wheelchair-accessible room if you have a mobility impairment

• having a hearing by phone instead of in-person if you have agoraphobia

• taking breaks during the hearing (example: you need to move a lot due to back pain or can only concentrate for short periods)

• having a hearing in the afternoon if a morning hearing would interfere with your medication schedule

• appointing a lawyer for you if you cannot represent yourself in a hearing due to a mental disability, such as a developmental disability, traumatic brain injury or mental illness.  Example: Because of your disability, you do not understand what you read, follow instructions, concentrate or communicate clearly.

 

How do I ask for an accommodation?

In writing is better.  Fill out the form below. Return it to the OAH office. Include copies of any paperwork you want OAH to consider.

These might be medical records or statements from doctors, counselors, or others supporting the accommodation.  Be specific about what you need OAH to do so you can take part fully in the proceedings.

You can also make your request online.

If your request is in writing, you do not have to tell OAH your specific medical diagnosis or disability. OAH may not ask what your specific medical diagnosis (for example, schizophrenia, autism or illiteracy) is. They can ask you to verify that you have a disability and need the accommodation you asked for.

You can also make your request over the phone.  If you prefer or need to make an oral request, call (360) 407-2700 or (800) 583-8271. TTY (hearing impaired) users dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388 for the Washington relay operator.

You do not need a diagnosis of a specific medical condition to have a “disability” under the law.  

When asking for a reasonable accommodation, give as much notice as you can of your need for accommodation. OAH may need time to meet your needs.

 

What if OAH denies my request for accommodation?

If you believe OPAH wrongfully denied your request, contact OAH’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator:

Office of Administrative Hearings
Attn: Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator
PO Box 42488
Olympia, WA 98504-2488
(360) 407-2700 OR (800) 583-8271

You can also file a discrimination complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission:

Washington State Human Rights Commission
Olympia Headquarters Office
711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 402
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
Toll free: 1-800-233-3247
http://www.hum.wa.gov/

 

Where can I get legal help?

Visit Northwest Justice Project to find out how to get legal help.