We have big news at CIS, and big news for all Pennsylvanians with a disability who utilize a personal care attendant: Michael’s Law (named after CIS participant Michael Anderson) has been officially adopted by the PA Human Relations Commission! 

This is a huge win for Pennsylvanians with a disability. The guidance from the commission mandates that people with disabilities who utilize a personal care attendant can attend public venues like concerts and sporting events without having to buy an additional ticket for their attendant. 

This enormous milestone on the path to Michael’s Law has been a long time in the making: the groundwork for it dates back to around 2008, when Michael brought a lawsuit against a museum after being forced to pay admittance for both himself and his aide in order to visit a museum. After three years of fighting in court, he finally won the lawsuit.

“Based on advice from my lawyer, I started calling venues around the country about this lawsuit, and nobody had any idea about this issue that people with disabilities face. Due to my outreach, a lot of venues in the state became aware and already informally adopted this policy.”

Michael’s goal is to make this an official law throughout the commonwealth and the country, and he’s had a crucial ally on his mission: Representative Tarik Khan, who wrote and sponsored Michael’s Law. The two first met when Representative Khan was a freshman state representative and paid a visit to Michael at his home. Michael is an outstanding disability rights advocate with The Arc of Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, and Representative Khan wanted to see how the two of them might work together. While visiting Michael, Representative Khan saw a Daily News article on Michael’s wall. Closer inspection showed that it told the story of Michael’s lawsuit. 

“Representative Khan said, ‘Hey, why don’t we work together to try to make this a law,'” said Michael, and the rest is history, as they say, or history in the making. 

With the Human Relations Commission formally adopting the statute, public venues across the state will now have clear guidance when it comes to this crucial issue, and people who use personal care attendants will have legal recourse if those venues fail to comply. 

“This is an important step,” said Michael. “People like me shouldn’t have to rely on attendants to have to pay for themselves. They’re going where I’m going because it’s their job. And by mandating that a person with a disability does not have to also pay for their attendant, it means that their money will go twice as far.” That’s particularly important for people with a disability, who earn, on average, just 66 cents for every dollar earned by non-disabled individuals.

Still, Michael refuses to rest on his laurels, and cautions that while this is an important step, it’s not the last.

“There’s work to be done,” he said. “We need to get even more legislators on board and really work to raise awareness, particularly in the western part of the state. I can’t do it alone. We need more advocates to step up to the plate.” For Michael, that work begins right away: he’s already begun a campaign to reach out to venues across the state to make sure they’re aware of the new mandate and that they take the appropriate steps towards compliance. And, importantly, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission made it a guidance, not technically a law.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” says Michael. 

In the meantime, Michael’s doing some well-earned celebrating. In wake of the good news, Representative Khan hopped in his car and headed straight to Michael’s, where the two took some time to celebrate their achievement and soak in the accomplishment, and then had a little fun recording a video message to the many people rooting them on and the many who have had a hand in helping them achieve this goal. 

“I want to make sure to recognize The Arc of Philadelphia, The Arc of Pennsylvania, Representative Mary Jo Daley, the PA Human Relations Commission, and all my allies in Harrisburg who have supported me,” said Michael. “But we’re not done,” he added. “I want to take this to Washington. I want this to be a nationwide mandate so that people with disabilities in every state can benefit from this.” 

Congratulations to Michael and to Representative Khan on an achievement that will make a positive impact for people with disabilities across the Commonwealth and, we hope, far beyond.