I have no problem with reasonable efforts to accommodate the handcapped when it comes to things such as access to public buildings, access to facilities within the building, etc. I’ve also known disbaled people who are able to operate a car with the use of specially installed controls. As long as they can demonstarte that they can operate the vehicle safely, again, no problem. This, however, makes no sense to me. If a person’s physical abilities are limited to the point where they cannot get in and out of a pool without this type of device, they should not be using the pool. All this does is put them at great risk.
I have mixed feelings about this. I’m visualizing a small town with one pool and limited resources. They should be exempt. I’m thinking of my community though which has multiple pools. One at least could have one of these devices and those special stairs for getting in and out (I’ve actually used those on days when I’m a bit stiff). My fitness center has three pools. One of them has this device and the stairs. It’s the indoor pool. I saw a young man in a wheel chair though who had the upper body strength to swing himself out of the chair and into the water and back out again - no legs. But in another 20 years, what will he do. Motel 6, nope. Small one pool towns nope. Maybe local option and market forces but not federal government. That’s what I’m thinking.
“If a person’s physical abilities are limited to the point where they cannot get in and out of a pool without this type of device, they should not be using the pool. All this does is put them at great risk.”
NO. NO. and NO. It ain’t necessarily so. There was a time when I had membership at the Kroc Center in San Diego (an EXCELLENT facility btw, a rec. pool with 5 lanes or so - deepest part about 4 feet. The more ‘serious’ pool — 11 lanes, all deep water 9-12 feet or so. And a therapy pool-this last indoors. Therapy pool about chest high. MANY elderly people used it, along with those of us with aches/pains etc. They had 2 of the chairlifts — one for indoors and the other stationed outdoors at the ‘serious’ pool — it was made good use of by those who needed it. Handicapped people aren’t all the same! Not really easy to haul yourself in and out of pool if you’re missing a leg or an arm — but otherwise they swim quite well and manage — that’s HOW they manage to stay in shape - they are in no danger of drowning any more than the average swimmer. The Kroc center was HUGE and could afford it — I’d be loath to require Motel Six to do it!