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SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

If you need an accommodation in order to participate in a court program held at the Capitol Complex, you must contact the Clerk's Office no less than two business days (not including Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays) in advance. You may contact the Clerk's Office by calling (304) 558-2601 (telephone) or (304) 558-4219 (TTY); or by writing to Clerk's Office, Building 1, Room E-317, Kanawha Boulevard, E., Charleston, WV 25305-0832 (regular mail).

* Note: If you have a case or will be participating in an action in a circuit court, magistrate court, or family court and need an accommodation, please contact the magistrate or circuit court clerk in that county for information on how to obtain the needed accommodation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered. The Americans with Disabilities Act assures equal access to justice for people who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. Courts must work closely with interpreters, parties, and witnesses to determine effective communication methods.

INFORMATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

AUXILIARY AIDS AVAILABLE

Auxiliary aids and services necessary for effective communication or to enable participation in services, other than devices of a personal nature, are to be provided at no cost to persons with disabilities. The court is responsible for providing the accommodation and paying the costs.

Examples of auxiliary aids and services that benefit individuals with hearing impairments include

  • qualified interpreters
  • note-takers
  • computer-aided transcription services
  • written materials
  • assistive listening systems
  • closed caption decoders
  • open and closed captioning
  • telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDDs)
  • real-time transcription
  • exchange of written notes.

Examples of auxiliary aids and services that benefit individuals who are blind or visually impaired include providing

  • better lighting
  • a location with better lighting
  • adjusting lighting
  • taped text
  • qualified readers (individuals or electronic readers)
  • materials in Braille
  • large print materials
  • materials in electronic format on compact discs or in e-mails
  • audio recordings

ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE WHILE VISITING THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

1900 Kanawha Blvd, East
Building One, Room E-100
Charleston, WV 25305
  • There is an assistive listening device in the Supreme Court courtroom, which, as its name implies, will assist persons who are hard-of-hearing with hearing the court proceedings. It is an FM system. Users have a choice of earphones or a neckloop (the neckloop may be used by persons who have hearing aids equipped with a telecoil).
  • The Supreme Court has a wheelchair on the premises for people who have difficulty walking far distances. Please alert the Clerk's Office (304) 558-2601 in advance if you need someone to meet you on California Avenue with the wheelchair.
  • Other accommodations (such as sign language interpreters, real-time reporting, enlarging printed materials or providing printed materials in Braille) will be provided upon request if such request is reasonable.

DIRECTIONS TO SUPREME COURT

  • Take I-64 to Charleston, West Virginia.
  • When you arrive in Charleston, take Exit 99, State Capitol/Greenbrier Street exit.
  • If you are traveling on I-64 West/I-77 North, at the end of the exit ramp make a left onto Greenbrier Street.
  • If you are traveling on I-64 East/I-77 South, at the end of the exit ramp make a right onto Greenbrier Street.
  • If you are traveling directly from the airport, stay on Greenbrier Street, and do not get on the interstate.
  • FOR PUBLIC PARKING WITH A WALK TO THE CAPITOL: Stay on Greenbrier Street until you come to the traffic light at the intersection of Greenbrier Street and Washington Street. At this traffic light make a left into the State Capitol grounds parking lot. You will see a guardhouse as soon as you turn into this parking lot. Someone in the guardhouse will be able to direct you to a public parking space. Proceed to the East Wing of the Capitol, which is located on the right if your back is to the Kanawha River. Take the elevators to the third floor.
  • FOR LIMITED PUBLIC PARKING AND HANDICAP PARKING. Stay on Greenbrier Street and proceed straight through the traffic light at the intersection of Greenbrier Street and Washington Street. Make a left turn onto Kanawha Boulevard at the next stoplight. The river will be on your right and the Capitol will be on your left. Make a left turn onto California Avenue at the next stoplight. There are limited meter spaces and handicap accessible spaces along California Avenue. Do not park in spaces where the meters are bagged. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance on the North end of the East Wing. Proceed through those doors and take the elevator to the third floor.

MAP OF CAPITOL COMPLEX

Printable Version

ADA - Map of Capitol - Large