New Online Guides Outline ADA Compliance Regulations

Randy Davis, vice president, Government Relations, IAAPA

The U.S. Access board has provided new information regarding guidelines or regulations issued by the board last September. These guidelines set forth means to provide access to various types of recreation facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These guidelines, which supplement the Board’s ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), specify access to amusement rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf courses, sports facilities, swimming pools, wading pools, and spas. The guidelines are the first of their kind in detailing access to these environments.

To help users become familiar with the guidelines, the board has developed supplementary guides on each type of facility. The guides, which summarize and explain requirements for each facility type, are intended for use with the regulations themselves. The guides for each type of recreation can be found at www.access-board.gov/recreation/guides, and the guide for accessible amusement rides can be found at www.access-board.gov/recreation/guides/amuse.htm.

The following discussions have been taken from the new amusement guidelines.

Introduction

This guide is intended to help designers and operators in using the accessibility guidelines for amusement park rides. These guidelines establish minimum accessibility requirements for newly designed or newly constructed and altered amusement park rides. This guide is not a collection of amusement ride designs. Rather, it provides specifications for elements of amusement rides to create a general level of usability for individuals with disabilities. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that individuals with disabilities are generally able to access the amusement ride and use a variety of elements. Designers and operators are encouraged to exceed the guidelines where possible to provide increased accessibility and opportunities. Incorporating accessibility into the design of an amusement ride should begin early in the planning process with careful consideration to accessible routes and providing access to rides.

The recreation facility guidelines described in this guide focus on newly-designed or constructed and altered amusement rides and address only structures and grounds. Other provisions contained in ADAAG address elements commonly found at amusement parks or theme parks, such as accessible vehicle parking spaces, exterior accessible routes, and toilet and bathing facilities. The guidelines do not address operational issues. Questions regarding operational issues should be directed to the Department of Justice, 800/514-0301 or 800/514-0383 (TTY).

An amusement ride is defined by the guidelines as a system that moves people through a fixed course within a defined area for the purpose of amusement. The guidelines do not apply to vehicles such as trams or gondolas, which are designed primarily to transport people. These vehicles are addressed in the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles.

New Rides

New rides refer to the “first use,” which is the first time amusement park patrons take a ride on a custom-designed or newly-manufactured ride. If a ride is moved to another area of a park or to another park, it is not considered new. If the ride was purchased from another entity, “new” refers to the first permanent installation of the ride, whether it was purchased “off the shelf” or modified before installation.

Altered Rides

Altered rides refer to changes in structural or operational characteristics of an existing ride vehicle configuration from those specified by the manufacturer or the original design criteria. An existing ride is also considered an altered ride if the load or unload area is newly designed or constructed. Thus, if an existing ride is simply moved to another area of a park or to another park, it is not considered altered unless the load or unload area is newly designed or newly constructed. Routine maintenance, painting, or changing the theme boards is not considered an alteration. More information can be found in the complete guide.

Accessible Rides

Each newly constructed or newly designed amusement ride must provide at least one wheelchair space, or at least one ride seat designed for transfer, or a device designed to move a person using a wheelchair from the load and unload area to a ride seat. The type of access that is provided for each ride is left up to the operator or designer.
Where possible, operators should increase the number of accessible ride seats so more people with disabilities can enjoy the rides with their families.
IAAPA and its members helped develop these regulations. The guide goes into great detail on the new regulations, and IAAPA members should familiarize themselves with its contents.