Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) is inviting the public to provide comments on proposed guidance clarifying how the agency may interpret the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) when evaluating cases involving reasonable accommodation requests and the admission of Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) accompanying individuals with disabilities at public accommodations and commercial properties.
“The Commission’s goal is to provide clarity for both the public and covered entities so that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in the events and activities open to all Pennsylvanians,” said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. “We also want to hear from the public as we finalize this guidance to ensure it reflects the lived experiences of those directly impacted.”
The proposed guidance explains when the PHRC may consider it to be a reasonable accommodation for entities to provide PCAs free or discounted admission, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in public life. While the PHRA does not guarantee free admission for PCAs in every case, the Commission explains that it may be required in certain circumstances, such as admission to museums, amusement parks, outdoor events, or venues with accessible seating areas.
“This guidance reaffirms the Commission’s responsibility to uphold the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act in a way that is fair, consistent for all,” said PHRC Chief Counsel Joseph Green II. “It balances the rights of individuals with disabilities with the practical considerations faced by public accommodations.”
Under the PHRA, individuals seeking accommodations must have a disability as defined by the law and the requested accommodation must be reasonable and necessary. Covered entities may only deny accommodations if it can show that providing them would create an undue hardship or fundamentally alter the nature of its program.
“Our intent is to provide a transparent framework that people can rely on,” added PHRC Policy Director Alana Burman. “Public input is critical to this process, and we strongly encourage stakeholders across Pennsylvania from families who utilize PCAs to event and venue owners and operators to share their perspectives.”
The PHRC will accept public comments on the proposed guidance via an online survey from October 6 through November 25, 2025. Individuals, advocacy groups, businesses, and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate. Before submitting comments, please access the guidance here and read it in full.
In addition, two virtual public meetings to solicit feedback on the guidance will be held Wednesday, November 19, 12:00-3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 25, 4:00-7:00 p.m. To attend, please register in advance for either the afternoon session or evening session. If you would like to be heard at this meeting, we ask that you indicate that when you register so that we can allocate enough time for each speaker. We anticipate that each speaker will be allocated up to minutes to speak.
About PHRC: The PHRC, the state’s civil rights enforcement agency, urges anyone who has experienced acts of discrimination or hate to file a complaint by calling 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available on the PHRC website. Follow the PHRC on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
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