Vote if you Have a Disability or are a Friend of Disability Rights

Please Share

*April 4^th is the last day to have your voice heard: Submit a comment to commemorate Disability Rights

With less than two days left to comment there are only 617public comments posted onRegulations.Gov. The majority are of currently from the “hospitality industry” and consider a lift (at $2,000 – $4,000 before tax credits) too high a price for equal access because there are too few individuals who need them. Do you think that is representative of America?

Points to consider:

· The new rules would enable people with disabilities to access pools at fitness centers in their communities, while on business trips or when on vacation providing social and exercise opportunities that are critical to health.

· The final regulation language published in September 2010 on accessible entry and exit from swimming pools and spas been through an exhaustive, deliberative and very public process that began September 30th, 2004; all parties had ample opportunity comment.

· Owners and operators have had eighteen months since the 2010 standards were initially promulgated to address any issues or questions about compliance. .

· The concepts of program accessibility and readily achievable barrier removal provide operators and business owners with alternatives and protections against undue financial burdens that are not offset by available tax incentives for improving access to business.

· Justice should move forward without further delay to make effective the requirements to provide access to pools, wading pools, and spas on May 21, 2012, and to resist this sudden realization of impact resulting in last minute efforts to undermine the seven year deliberative and inclusive process that lead to the development of the standard. Ignorance is not excuse The Department should also clarify that the current delay applies only to existing pools, wading pools, and spas and does not excuse newly constructed or altered pools during this period.

Comment at http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=DOJ-CRT-2012-0006-0001

*