quatics professionals and equipment manufacturers are preparing themselves for new Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines that will affect public and commercial pools across the country.
The U.S. government is in the process of creating specific guidelines related to the ADA’s requirement that facilities provide “reasonable accommodations” for recreational activities such as swimming and golf, according to Michael Quimbey, vice president of environmental affairs at ClubCorp Inc., a Dallas firm specializing in the management of athletic clubs.
The U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, commonly known as the “Access Board,” is the agency responsible for drafting the guidelines. One law certain to come out of the new guidelines is the requirement that any aquatics center with more than 300 linear feet of water must provide at least two types of accessible equipment, which can include a ramp, ladder or swim lift.
“That choice is virtually yours,” says Quimbey. “I like [lifts]. They seem to be the simplest, and they’re a catchall. No matter the disability…you can lift the person out and store [the equipment].”
Swim lifts are almost certain to be one of the requirements by 2003, says Perry Sawrey, managing director for Fargo, N.D.-based Rehab Systems, LLC.
“If you have more than 300 linear feet of pool, you’ll need a lift and a second device,” says Sawrey, whose company markets the AquaTrek line of accessibility equipment. “There’s going to be a huge rush to meet these primary requirements.”
During recent remodeling, Quimbey says ClubCorp has undertaken proactive steps by installing ramps at some of its clubs. But he’s not entirely sold on the piece of equipment.
“They’re expensive and they take away other undue space,” he says.
With the Access Board poised to issue its new guidelines in the coming year, everyone needs to be thinking about this equipment, according to Quimbey.
“It’s not that difficult to manage,” he says. “You just have to be open-minded.”
