In September 2002, the U.S. Access Board, the federal agency designated with developing accessibility guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act, released accessibility guidelines for recreation facilities, specifically swimming pools. The new guidelines will be incorporated into the existing Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) once they are adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice. Highlights of the new accessibility requirements for swimming pools include:

• Accessible routes linking the swimming pool to the amenities within the facility such as the locker rooms or restrooms, sunbathing areas, concessions, phones, and first aid stations.



• A primary means of entry into a swimming pool is required and can include a sloped entry or a pool lift.



• Where pool lifts are provided, they are required to be operable independently by swimmers with disabilities. Additional technical provisions for the pool lift also address the seat width, height above the deck and location to swing over the deck and away from the water, lifting capacity and depth for submersion.



• For larger pools, a secondary means of entry is required. The secondary means of entry can include a sloped entry, pool lift, transfer wall, transfer system or stairs. Large pools are defined as having more than 300 linear feet of pool wall.

Sloped entry. A woman using a wheelchair uses the zero-depth entry at a water theme park	Pool lift. A life guard demonstrates the operation of a pool lift.

Transfer System. A man uses a transfer system, scooting down the steps, to enter the pool.	Steps. A young woman grips the handrail while using the steps to exit a pool. She receives assistance from a friend to sustain her balance and footing.

Table 1 further illustrates the permitted means of access needed for each type of pool.

The U.S. Access Board has created a guide," Accessible Swimming Pools and Spas " on the new technical provisions. The guide provides the specific requirements for the operation of the pool lifts and the dimensions for sloped entries, transfer systems, and stairs.

Accessibility guidelines for recreation facilities and swimming pools have been several years in development. In 1995, the U.S. Access Board contracted the National Center on Accessibility to conduct research on the needs and preferences of people with disabilities as they enter and exit swimming pools. NCA surveyed pool operators to examine the prevalence of designs and devices used to provide pool access, related policies and procedures, as well as safety and maintenance concerns. In addition, NCA tested a variety of equipment and designs including swimming pool lifts, transfer systems, ramps, moveable floors and zero depth entries to measure the appropriateness, independent use and safety of each. NCA's research findings serve as the basis for the new accessibility guidelines.

The new accessibility guidelines for swimming pools balance the diverse needs of people with mobility impairments and other functional limitations. Through the NCA research, it was discovered that not one single means of access would be effective for every single user. For example, Bradford Woods, Indiana University's Outdoor Center, offers campers a variety of pool entry methods including a sloped entry, a pool lift, and traditional stairs. The many entry methods enable campers to choose which method best fit their needs. While the ADAAG guidelines require specific entry methods, a person with a disability may elect to enter the pool without using these methods.