Access to Justice Commission announces grantees for the 2026 Disability Access Grant – January 2026

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission), and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) have selected twenty-six 2026 Disability Access Grant awardees to support projects that advance accessibility and reduce barriers to equal access to courts for people with disabilities.

The Disability Access Grant recognizes that courts must address accessibility barriers and ensure equal access for people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), and the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities (Policy).

Illinois Courts have made significant efforts to comply with ADA, IHRA, and the Policy. The ATJ Commission offers the Disability Access Grant to help promote accessibility initiatives and kick-start new projects to ensure compliance and further enhance access to the Illinois court system for people with disabilities.

The ATJ Commission funded a variety of grant activities, including structural modifications to enhance accessible courthouse features, purchasing accessibility aids, signage, and communication technology, and creating opportunities to hear feedback from court patrons with disabilities.

The 2026 Disability Access Grant awardees are:

1. Eighth Judicial Circuit, Adams County
2. Third Judicial Circuit, Bond County
3. Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Carroll County
4. Eighth Judicial Circuit, Cass County
5. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
6. Cook County Circuit Court
7. Cook County Law Office of the Public Defender
8. Second Judicial Circuit, Hamilton County
9. Ninth Judicial Circuit, Henderson County
10. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Henry County
11. Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Jo Daviess County
12. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County
13. Second Judicial Circuit, Lawrence County
14. Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County
15. Fourth Judicial Circuit, Marion County
16. Eighth Judicial Circuit, Mason County
17. Eighth Judicial Circuit, Menard County
18. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, Perry County
19. First Judicial Circuit, Pulaski County
20. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit
21. First Judicial Circuit, Saline County
22. Fourth Judicial Circuit
23. Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
24. Tenth Judicial Circuit, Tazewell County
25. Third District Appellate Court of Illinois
26. First Judicial Circuit, Williamson County

The ATJ Commission is thrilled to announce this year's cohort of grantees and looks forward to following these transformative projects as they promote equal access to court for people with disabilities across Illinois.

For more information, contact: August Hieber, Senior Program Manager, ATJ Division at ‪312-793-3858 or at [email protected].