The National Center on Accessibility (NCA, 1996) under contract to the US Access Board, studied the preferences of people with disabilities accessing swimming pools via various means and develop preliminary recommendations for access to swimming pools. NCA research findings serve as the basis for the new accessibility guidelines issued by the US Access Board in 2002:

• One accessible water entry and exit for each swimming pool located on an accessible route; and two accessible water entries and exits for pool with more than 300 linear feet of pool wall
• Pools with only one accessible means of water entry and exit shall provide a pool lift, wet ramp, or zero depth entry
• Pools with a second means of water entry and exit shall provide a transfer wall, transfer steps, movable floor, stairs, swimming pool lift, wet ramp, or zero depth entry. Lifts, wet ramp, or zero depth entry may not be used as the second accessible means if used as the first accessible means.
• If a second accessible entry and exit exists, it should be located to complement the first accessible entry and exit to serve both ends and sides of the pool.