Houston Regional Office

COVID-19 Safety Protocols for the AAA-ICDR^® 
Houston Regional Office & Hearing Center

The Houston Regional Office of the AAA-ICDR complies with state and local
COVID-19-related orders and guidance, and we ask that all visitors to our hearing facilities do so as well.

To Complete In Advance of Your Visit

Please complete the following Symptom Check questionnaire each day of your hearing.

Upon arrival, you will be asked to show your completed Symptom Check or the “pass” screen on the electronic version.

• AAA Visitor COVID-19 Daily Symptom Check (PDF)
• AAA Visitor COVID-19 Daily Symptom Check (Electronic Version)

Important Safety Protocols and Procedures

Prior to opening, the office was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Hearing rooms are limited to one hearing per day, and all hearing rooms are cleaned daily.

Stations throughout the hearing facility supply hand-sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Appropriate social distancing must be maintained in all common areas of the office. While social distancing remains optional within the AAA hearing and meeting rooms, it is recommended that visitors maintain an appropriate social distance whenever feasible.

Visitors who are not fully vaccinated will be required to wear a face mask in all common areas, including restrooms, when social distancing cannot be maintained. Face masks are optional for fully vaccinated visitors. Face masks are also optional for both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors within the AAA hearing and meeting rooms; however, face masks are recommended whenever social distancing is not feasible.

Acrylic partitions are available upon request.

For additional information, please see our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines to be Followed by Visitors to the American Arbitration Association’s Houston Office.

Planning Your Hearing

The AAA-ICDR aims to make available as many of our valued amenities as possible given current state and local COVID-19 guidance. Please contact us to find out more about which amenities are currently available.

A Hybrid Approach to Hearings

Hearings may take a hybrid approach, where some arbitrators, parties, representatives, and others appear in person while others participate virtually. The AAA-ICDR can assist with these alternative hearing arrangements.

Video Conferencing Technology

The Houston Regional Office is outfitted with the following video conferencing technology:

• Wireless content display
• Wireless content sharing
• Wireless Internet access
• VOIP audio conferencing room-based system/conference phone
• Room-based PC
• Wall-mounted commercial-grade monitors and projection displays
• Tabletop touchpad capable of controlling all room technology
  

Please see the documents below for further guidance:

Virtual Hearing Guide for Arbitrators and Parties
Virtual Hearing Guide for Arbitrators and Parties Utilizing ZOOM
Order and Procedures for a Virtual Hearing via Videoconference