The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), which represents the U.S. aquatics industry, is reminding public pool/spa owners and operators whose facilities fall under the requirements of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design to prepare for the January 31 compliance deadline.
By the end of the month, existing pools/spas at hotels/motels, health clubs, recreation centres, public country clubs, and other businesses must comply with ADA sections 242 and 1009 (Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, and Spas).
To prepare for the deadline, Jennifer Hatfield, the APSP’s director of government relations says owners/operators should first meet with a pool professional to perform a facility audit to determine if the facility falls under the ADA jurisdiction and what elements need to be modified to provide access for people with disabilities. Should facility modifications be required an implementation plan should follow. It should start with a list of all barrier removal issues and a determination if the required modifications are readily achievable. If they are not, the reason should be clearly presented as part of the plan. On the other hand, if the means of access already exist, it should be noted the facility conforms to ADA regulations. If the means of access needs to be ordered, this should also be noted, along with a timeframe for issuing the order and the expected installation date.
“The APSP supports the accessibility standards and the goal of ensuring access by persons with disabilities,” adds Hatfield. “We’ve been following this issue for years and have developed information to help members reach compliance.”
