As the winter months move in and cold and snow become regulars on the calendar, more Americans are dreaming of vacationing in warmer climates. If you’re like us, you can’t wait for a little relaxation, fun in the sun, and relaxing in the water. However, if you are one of the millions of Americans living with a disability, you may want to think twice before booking that hotel.
In 2010, the Department of Justice passed regulations requiring hotels to make their pools ADA compliant. The regulations state that physical barriers in existing pools must be removed if it is readily achievable to do so.
What Does This Mean? Many consumers believed it meant that all hotel pools would now be readily accessible to those with disabilities or confined to a wheelchair. Many hotels on the other hand were simply confused. Many believed the use of the term readily achievable to do so meant their pools were exempt from the regulation, while others simply did not know how to comply.
By 2012, the DOJ understood the need for further guidance and issued the document ADA 2010 Revised Requirements: Accessible Pools—Means of Entry and Exit. This document declared that large pools are required to have two accessible means of entry, and small pools are required to have only one. Additionally, any chair lift must be fixed, unless a fixed lift is not readily achievable. If a portable lift is used, it must be available during all open pool hours. The document required that hotels comply with the 2010 Standards by March 15, 2012.
While most business have done their best to comply with ADA regulations, one should never assume that a pool is readily accessible to the disabled. The hotel owners may have determined that compliance was not readily achievable. Since, this is handled on a case by case basis, there is no fixed set of rules to determine whether access will be installed. In addition, the regulations do not require chair lifts. In fact, the law merely states they must have an accessible entry. An accessible entry can be a chair lift or a sloped entry.
When planning your vacation, the easiest and most accurate means of ensuring that the hotel pool will be easily accessible to all members of your party it to call the hotel. They will be able to provide you with exact details of what is available and can answer any questions you may have.
If you have encountered issues with a hotel or business being ADA compliant, contact us. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to answer your questions and address your concerns. Our goal is to give all Americans the access and abilities they deserve.