A Norwegian Township man who advocates for disability access has filed a complaint with the federal Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division against Schuylkill County.

Chris Melusky told county commissioners on Wednesday that he filed the Americans with Disabilities Act Title 2 discrimination complaint because of the conditions under which he sat on Sept. 4 to review a 92-page Right-To-Know packet of information at the county courthouse.

Commissioners did not comment publicly in response to the information.

Melusky said he notified the county in advance because of his physical disability related needs.

He said he submitted the request in writing, listing three needs: a supportive, ergonomic-style chair; a proper desk or table to review the records; and adequate light. Melusky said he asked the county to let him know in advance if they had difficulty meeting the conditions.

“I received no such call,” he said. “When I arrived at the courthouse, I was provided with a rickety-dickity waiting room style chair. My workplace was atop a two-drawer later file cabinet, partially occupied on the right-hand side by a coffeemaker, with a water cooler to the left and a wall to the right. The lighting was so dim I had to use my phone’s flash while scanning 92 pages of public records.”

He said that when he questioned the accommodations, he was told there were no alternatives.

Melusky also said he had difficulty finding who handles ADA complaints. He said he used the ADA support email address given on the county website, but the explanation of how people are to electronically file a formal grievance was unclear.

“A person with a disability should not have to conduct an investigation just to figure out who handles an ADA complaint and how to file one,” he said.

Melusky urged commissioners to correct the situation, including: clearly identifying the ADA coordinator; providing an accessible disability grievance process; training personnel; and making reasonable accommodations available.

“Commissioners, take this very seriously, because the next disabled person who enters or encounters something like this may not come to this podium, and may not ask you to fix it,” Melusky said. “They may walk into an attorney’s office, and the next conversation the county has about disability discrimination may take place in a federal courtroom. And guess who ultimately pays the price? The taxpayers.

“Accessibility isn’t a courtesy; it’s a basic right.”