(a) Disability accommodations requests are considered to be non-substantive requests that are separate from the merits of a legal case.

(b) Disability accommodation requests should be raised with and handled by a Disability Coordinator. If an immediate need for a disability accommodation arises during the course of a hearing and is more expeditiously handled by the hearing officer or the workers' compensation administrative law judge, the request for an accommodation may be made directly to the hearing officer or the workers' compensation administrative law judge.

(c) Disability accommodation requests are permitted communications. Only impermissible ex parte communications shall be disclosed to the other parties.

Note: Authority: Sections 111(a), 133 and 5307.3, Labor Code; and Section 11138, Government Code. Reference: Section 123.6(a), Labor Code; Sections 51, 54 and 54.1, Civil Code; Sections 11135 and 11351(c), Government Code; and 42 USC Sections 12101 and 12132.