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On or after January 31, 2013

Subject to other provisions of this guidance, all existing pools of public entities and public accommodations must comply with the 2010 Standards to the extent required under title II program accessibility or title III readily achievable barrier removal requirements.

For more information on effective dates, see the Department’s publication called ADA 2010 Revised Requirements: Effective Date and Compliance Date and the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design.

To determine which pools must be made accessible, public entities should consider the following factors:

• How to provide swimming programs in the most integrated setting appropriate;
• The ways in which people participate in the programs (e.g., individually, in families, in youth groups);
• Locations where the programs are offered;
• What programs are offered at each pool and to which constituencies (e.g., family swims, children’s swimming lessons, older adult exercise classes, high school swim meets);
• Which pools are accessible and to what extent; and
• Level of dispersion of the accessible locations and convenience to reach them (e.g., one pool in each quadrant of the town, all on accessible mass transit).