Parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Nesquehoning held a ramp rally on Friday to install a handicapped ramp at the church.

The building of a ramp was approved by the Carbon County Planning Commission and the Nesquehoning Planning Commission a few months ago, but not by the Nesquehoning Zoning Board.Parishioners, along with their pastor, Rev. Anthony Drouncheck, listened as Carol Duda, a Civil Rights Advocate from Independent Living for Carbon and Luzerne counties, spoke to the group on their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.Duda said there are many churches who have put in elevators, lifts, and ramps and there has been no problem. She told the group they could go to the Federal Court with their petition.After the form is filed, they will appear before a Federal Judge who will rule on the construction of a handicapped ramp. The process Duda told them could take a few months but may not cost anything.