The Revised 2010 Edition of the ADA Requires Pools to have Accessible Lifts

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Published on Thursday, 23 February 2012 14:08

Under the 2010 revised guidelines of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), a pool under 300 linear feet must provide one means of access (a sloped entry or a pool lift.) For larger pools, there must be two means of access (pool lift, sloped entry, pool stairs, transfer wall or transfer system.)

If the facility has wading pools they must have sloped entries. The new rules apply to new and existing pools.  Due to the confusion over whether pool lifts could be shared or portable, the DOJ released an update which clearly states the lifts cannot be shared, they cannot be portable and they must be able to be able to be operated independently by a person with a disability.

March 15, 2012 is the deadline for the implementations of these and other guidelines under the 2010 ADA. Federal law enforcement, health officials and individuals can file complaints against businesses who do not comply with the new guidelines at any time after that date.

The City of Myrtle Beach have installed lifts at their Pepper Geddings and Canal Street Recreation Centers. Spokesman Mark Kruea states: "The idea is to give people who happen to have a disability access to the programs, the services, the equipment, and the buildings that everybody else can access. Just because they have a disability, it doesn't mean they aren't entitled to do all the things other folks may do too."

The Department of Justice enforces rules set under the Americans with Disabilities Act.