Thanks to the Drudge Report, I’ve been getting lots of email from pool managers across the country about my column this morning. Many of them want to know whether or not the new pool lift reugaltions apply to them. Unless your pool is part of your private residence, you are probably subject to ADA guidelines. Here is the exact wording from the Justice Department:
Title III covers businesses and nonprofit service providers that are public accommodations, privately operated entities offering certain types of courses and examinations, privately operated transportation, and commercial facilities. Public accommodations are private entities who own, lease, lease to, or operate facilities such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, movie theaters, private schools, convention centers, doctors’ offices, homeless shelters, transportation depots, zoos, funeral homes, day care centers, and recreation facilities including sports stadiums and fitness clubs. Transportation services provided by private entities are also covered by title III.
So, if you belong to a local community pool, as I do in Fairfax, Virginia, your facility is subject to the new guidelines. Even if you are a “private” pool that sells memberships to a limited group of people, you are still considered a “public accomodation” under the ADA.
