I tried to mention that I'm ready for ADR at the very beginning of filing appeal, before they could see the file. Got no response to that. Maybe I should have been more persistent, but consultant I talked to said chances are very low (too many red flags), and they will most likely want to hear from me, and my spouse as well, which at the time of ADR is not possible. So I didn't bother to try again.
I'm doing all by myself, no lawyers. Just had a few phone/Skype consultations with different people.
There was no communication from IAD after I received the blue book, until I found a good reason to bother them about 10 months ago. They responded literally in a few words "you hearing can be scheduled... blah-blah-blah..."
One more thing worth mentioning to everyone: visa officers' behavior. I have seen post on this forum, suspecting nationalism or even racism... Well, we are both pure white Russians, and were refused by a Russian origin visa officer in Moscow. The rest of the story is the same - lies in the interview transcript, in GCMS notes overall, documents lost/missing... or even intentionally removed from file. All they can do to justify the decision. The positive part is that we were refused very quick - within 3 months after sponsor approval.