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Sports & Leisure

UCP’s Sports and Leisure Channel is designed for people with disabilities who are interested in sports and other leisure activities and proposes creative ideas for inclusive community recreation programs, including outdoor adventure activities for people with disabilities.

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Sports & Leisure

Recreation & Leisure

Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities

In September 2002, the federal Architectural and Transportation barriers Compliance Board, commonly known as the Access Board, published new guidelines that address access for persons with disabilities to a variety of recreation facilities. The guidelines specify the minimum level of accessibility required in the construction or alteration of amusement rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf courses, sports facilities, swimming and wading pools, and spas.

The Board issued these guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures access to a wide range of facilities in the private and public sectors. The Board is also making these guidelines applicable to facilities covered by the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), which requires certain federally funded facilities to be accessible.

The published guidelines supplement the Board's ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) by adding a new chapter specific to recreation facilities. ADAAG, as originally published, covered many types of buildings and facilities but did not specifically address recreation facilities in particular detail. The Board had determined that specific guidance was needed on how to achieve access at recreation facilities. The published guidelines provide new requirements for such facilities and also clarify how existing requirements in ADAAG are to be applied. New provisions take into consideration certain design features unique to the facilities covered.

For further information or a copy of the guidelines, visit the Board's Web site. Copies also can be ordered by calling the Board's publication line at (800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY) and requesting publication S-43.