The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Watch for...interesting...changes in, among many other places, parks this year and next: http://www.columbiat...es-are-nearing/ It's way too early to see how parks react, but things will be very different in the next couple of years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 For new construction, the 2010 ADA guidelines go into effect next March for buildings that will have have occupancy by March 2012. As the statement reads "March 15, 2012, is also the compliance date for using the 2010 Standards for new construction, alterations, program accessibility, and barrier removal." Buildings that will be occupied prior to that still can use the old ADA. There are some changes, particularly in the area of restroom clear floor space. For those that have some free time on their hands and want to read the 2010 ADA guidelines, they are all available online at the following link: http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Perhaps most interesting, from my reading, is that renovations or remodels after March 15, 2012 will require the entire building to be brought into compliance with the new standards... And, perhaps far more important, existing buildings have one year to become compliant with the building standards established in the original law, or they will be subject to the 2010 standard. So much for 'grandfathering,' a concept that never did really exist the way most thought any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 And think of the cost associated with updating current buildings that are not already ADA compliant? Who is expected to front the cost of those upgrades? Yep, the building owners. Fortunately, ADA has been around long enough, that most buildings that are used by the public have already been updated to include reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Buildings? What about...rides? I know Disney, in particular, was studying this issue intently recently... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Yes. But then there is the whole subject of water slides. How many water slides do you know that have wheel chair lifts or elevators up to the top of their slide towers? Or, how many water slides (with an obvious exception at Holiday World), have loading stations at ground level, for those with mobility issues? Then of course there are rides like the Giant Slide at Coney that utilize a very narrow set of stairs to get to the top, or rides like Round Up, that require guests to stand for the duration of the ride. (I once had someone in a wheelchair roll up to Round Up`s exit and ask if they could ride. I asked them if they could stand, and they said yes, so I let them on.) It certainly is a very intriguing issue as it relates to amusement parks. Even car and vehicle design needs to conform to ADA guidelines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 So, if a ride is not brought into compliance with the old standards by next year, will it then be subject to the 2010 ones? So many issues....many of which a court or courts will end up deciding... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 That is certainly the way it reads. But some rides simply cannot be brought up to the new, or even the old compliance. Take for the instance the Flying Eagles ride, or any other ride with tubs that can rotate when guests are boarding. And technically, there should be handrails of some sort to assist people in transferring from a wheel chair to a ride vehicle. I think this will end up being decided by the courts. And the actual implementation date may end up being delayed while the courts decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 There is an exemption for those cases where implementation of the standards is structurally impracticable. But interpreting what that is and when it applies will certainly result in litigation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 As always, it is not a black and white issue. It is more a degree of shades of gray and open to interpretation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 And yet the activists on both sides will see it as black and white: * Of course this structure cannot be practicably altered to accommodate the disabled! * EVERY structure can be practically altered, it is just a matter of cost, and the sky is the limit, so do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTCO Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 If this does go in effect for rides as well, doesn't this mean the tunnels on The Beast will have to be removed or replaced. With wider and taller tunnels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 I don't see how or why... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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