Ontario court accessibility coordinators can help people identify disability-related supports for court services and proceedings. For people with brain injury, they may be an important starting point.
This resource is general information for Ontario readers. It is not legal or medical advice, and it cannot replace advice from a lawyer, doctor, or qualified professional who knows the situation.
How to Use This Resource
Read the page once for the main idea, then choose one action to take next. People living with ABI often do better with one clear step than with a long list of instructions.
If you are supporting someone else, ask permission before taking over reminders, paperwork, or communication. Support should make the process easier while still respecting the person’s privacy, dignity, and choices.
What an Accessibility Coordinator Can and Cannot Do
An accessibility coordinator can provide information about courthouse accessibility and accommodation options. They may help communicate needs to the right court staff or process.
They cannot provide legal advice. They also cannot change legal deadlines or procedural requirements on their own when approval from a judicial official is needed.
In a court or legal setting, the practical details matter. Write down what the person needs, what makes the situation harder, and what has helped before. Those details can make conversations with lawyers, court staff, and support workers more useful.
Reasons to Contact the Coordinator
A person may contact the coordinator for barriers involving:
- communication barriers related to disability
- assistive listening, captioning, or interpretation questions
- quiet space or break-related concerns
- accessible formats for documents
- support person or assistive device questions
- light, noise, mobility, or other courthouse barriers
These patterns are worth writing down. Specific examples are easier to explain than broad statements, especially when the person is tired or stressed. A short example such as ‘I forgot the date twice even with a paper notice’ is often clearer than a general statement such as ‘my memory is bad.’
Information to Include in a Request
Providing clear details helps the request move faster.
- name and contact information
- court location and file number if known
- date and type of proceeding
- role in the case
- the disability-related barrier
- the accommodation or support being requested
- any deadline or urgency
Keep the plan simple. A short written step that gets used is better than a detailed plan that is too hard to follow on a stressful day. If a step involves a court order, release condition, legal deadline, or decision about a case, confirm it with a lawyer or legal service.
It can also help to review the plan after each court date or legal appointment. Brain injury symptoms, schedules, and legal instructions can change, so the support system should be updated when new information is received.
Finding the Right Contact
Ontario’s court location finder includes court contact and accessibility information. It is best to ask as soon as the need is known.
For official background, review Ontario court locations and accessibility contacts. Use official information together with advice from a lawyer or qualified support professional.
Do not wait until the next court date if something is unclear. Asking early gives the person and their support network more time to correct misunderstandings, gather documents, or request accessibility support.
Related ABI Justice pages: How the Court Process Can Be Made More Accessible, How to Prepare Yourself for Court, Contact ABI Justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the coordinator give legal advice?
No. They can help with accessibility information, but legal advice should come from a lawyer or legal service.
Is brain injury a valid reason to ask about accommodation?
Yes. Brain injury can create cognitive, communication, sensory, or other disability-related barriers.
Should the lawyer know about the request?
Yes. The lawyer should know about accommodation needs because legal strategy and court approval may be involved.
Next Steps
Choose one practical step from this resource and write it down. If a court date, condition, or legal decision is involved, speak with a lawyer or legal service before acting on assumptions.
If you need help finding a starting point, visit the Resource Library or Contact ABI Justice.
