Still More Unintended Consequences

Back in April I wrote a column titled, Everybody Out of the Pool.  It detailed the new Americans With Disabilities Act regulations for public-access pools, Jacuzzis and hot tubs.  The new guidelines, which went into effect back in May of this year, mandate that these facilities have permanent pool lifts installed to give access to our disabled citizens. That includes hotel and Motel pools and spas.

The cost for installation of the chair lifts was estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 per unit, but some estimates went even higher than that.

Well, on my trip last week I actually saw my first examples of the new chair lift device. They were at a comfort Inn in Hillsville, Virginia.  The hotel has a pool and a hot tub, so two units were installed, one for each.  Notably, I didn’t see anyone using the chair lift.

I wish now that I had taken a picture of the chair lift, as it would have precluded my need to describe it to you. It is a metal stand about 5 feet high, bolted to the floor at the edge of the pool or tub, with a waterproof chair attached. The chair faces at a 90-degree angle to the body of water, but swivels to suspend the occupant over the water to be hydraulically lowered into it.  The process can be reversed for egress.

I must say that it is a nice apparatus, and I’d like to see it in operation someday, though I have my doubts as to how many people will actually use it—just my opinion, you know.

The reason I wrote this particular column was twofold:  I wanted to follow up on the earlier one to let you know that the new ADA law is being enforced, more slowly than was originally mandated, however.  I also wanted to tell you that I stayed at that same hotel about a year ago for $20.00 less than this stay.

I cannot prove that the increase in price was due solely to the added expense to the hotel owners of two $10,000 chair lifts, but I can speculate that it was a contributing factor. And in this anemic economy, with hotel chains begging for guests, the last thing we need is an increase in the cost of your stay.  

I have no gripe with disabled persons, and Lord knows there are a lot of disabled vets who have defended us overseas recently for whom I give daily thanks.  However, I just don’t think there will be a noticeable increase in the number of disabled people choosing to use the hotel pool & spa facilities now that they are equipped with these expensive aids.

Please prove me wrong so that I can justify paying the increased rates caused by the new law.