Disability Representative Reports

4-Year Executive Summary Report 2018-2021

Disability Accommodation Rule Informational Sessions:  4 Years of "Suitable Representatives"

Background:  In civil matters (including administrative matters before OAH), you generally don't have a right to an attorney.  However, in 2016, three parties successfully petitioned our agency to provide "suitable representatives" for some appellants with disabilities.  The three petitioners were an unnamed state resident with disabilities, Disability Rights Washington, and Seattle University Law School's Fred Korematsu Center.  The subsequent rule, WAC 10-24-010, went into effect in January 2018.

What's This About:  We've prepared a four-year data summary about the implementation of this rule between January 2018 and December 2021.  That summary can be found at this link: Executive Summary

Informational Sessions:  We held two public information sessions in August and September 2022 to discuss the four-year summary.  The PowerPoint presentation from those sessions can be found at this link:  Informational Session PowerPoint.    Updates regarding rules can be found on our rulemaking webpage:  Rulemaking Activities

2-Year Assessment Report 2018-2020

Since January 2018, the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) has provided “suitable representatives” as a new form of accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). OAH’s accommodation rule, WAC 10-24-010, provides a process to appoint a person to serve as a “suitable representative.” The accommodation is for self-represented parties when other accommodation measures are not sufficient to provide meaningful participation in OAH hearings. This report examines OAH’s experience implementing the new accommodation during the period January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019, and evaluates its effectiveness to promote equal access to administrative justice for people with disabilities.

To read the full report, click Two-Year Assessment Report.