Any accommodation requests for physical access to the building or the courtroom need to be made to the clerk of court. The clerk will be able to direct you to another contact if necessary. It may also be a good idea to notify opposing counsel of the accommodation request, particularly if it may impact presentation of evidence. For instance, a witness with a vision impairment may not be able read a document while on the stand.
An accommodation request for an interpreter should be addressed to the clerk of court or to the prosecutor, depending on the procedure used in that court. The clerk of court is typically the best place to start; if the prosecutor is responsible for obtaining an interpreter, the clerk will be able to let you know.
It is typically not required that requests for accommodations to be made in writing, although depending on how tense interactions with opposing counsel are, having the request in writing may be beneficial. The clerk may ask for the request to be provided in writing as well.
The request should include the client’s name, the specific accommodation being requested, and the reason for the request. As an example, you could request a ramp into the building be provided to allow your client, Joe Smith, to enter the building in his wheelchair. Or you may request that Joe Smith be permitted to attend the hearing via Zoom due to the building lacking accessible entrances to allow him to be present in his wheelchair.