Washington State Supreme Court Disability Justice Task Force

Supreme Court Symposium


Supreme Court Disability Justice Task Force 2025 Symposium

Join us online for the Disability Justice Task Force Symposium on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The presentation begins at 9:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm.

In 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court convened a disability steering committee to explore the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in our state court system. Building on the insights from those discussions, the Court established the Disability Justice Task Force (DJTF) to examine the unique challenges impacting access to justice for people with disabilities. The DJTF's primary objective was to conduct a comprehensive study and needs assessment to identify gaps in both physical and programmatic access across Washington's courts.

The Symposium will reveal the findings of the study. These findings will provide insights into how our courts currently address disability. The findings will recommend best practices and suggest solutions to promote accessibility, equity, and inclusion throughout the legal process. The Washington State Supreme Court is committed to ensuring that these efforts uphold the principles of dignity, respect, and full participation for all individuals who interact with and participate within our courts.

The overarching goal is to eliminate disability discrimination and marginalization within the justice system. A Disability Justice Commission is needed to accomplish our goals. A statewide Commission will ensure that people with disabilities have access to justice that not only meets legal compliance but also ensures dignity, equity, and full participation in the legal system and profession.

Location

Temple of Justice
415 12th Ave SW
Olympia, WA 98504

Watch Live

The Washington State Supreme Court hosts its Disability Justice Task Force 2025 Symposium at the Temple of Justice in Olympia.

ASL interpretation will be available on the live TVW broadcast. CART captioning for the Symposium is available by clicking the CART captioning button below. CART captioning may launch in a separate internet browser window. To watch the TVW Symposium broadcast and see CART captioning at the same time, click both the "Watch on TVW" and "CART Captioning" buttons. Because TVW and the CART captioning are on different live streams, you may experience a slight delay in the timing of either stream. You may benefit by watching the two streams on two different devices or two separate screens.

Watch on TVW External link - opens in a new window CART Captioning External link - opens in a new window

Having trouble viewing the link? Please email Joslyn.Nelson@courts.wa.gov to request more information.

Program Agenda & Speaker Bios


Documents & Resources

Disability Justice Task Force Study

A statewide review of disability access in Washington courts, grounded in Disability Justice principles and informed by surveys, focus groups, and site visits to identify gaps and recommend reforms.

Disability Justice Task Force Symposium Presentation

A statewide presentation of the findings from the study from KMG Consulting Firm, highlighting barriers in Washington courts and sharing practical steps to build inclusion and access.

Microsoft Presentation

A partner session led by Microsoft, exploring how technology can support accessibility, equity, and innovation in the courts.

The quest to make WA's legal system more accessible for people with disabilities

Washington's Supreme Court is undertaking a first-in-nation effort to improve access. For one justice, it's personal.


Videos

Joslyn's Video:

Joslyn shares her lived experience as a court user with a disability.

El's Video:

El speaks about navigating the court system with a disability.

Gail's Video:

Gail reflects on her experiences in the courts as a person with a disability.

Olivia's Video:

Olivia highlights her perspective as a court user with a disability.