Hampton Inn on the Gatlinburg Parkway is a fantastic choice if proximity to your intended attractions is a priority. If you have been craving that refreshing breath of fresh air that comes from the newness and possibility of the outdoors, then it’s time for you to take yourself up on those travel plans! These handicap accessible hotels in Gatlinburg keep you close to the hub of downtown, the entrance to the national park, and fun-filled outdoor escapes like Ober Gatlinburg and Anakeesta. Handicap Accessible Hotels in Gatlinburg, TN Discover what kinds of exceptional amenities await at the most welcoming hotels for those with disabilities. The wide variety of handicap accessible hotels in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg puts travel to this wondrous part of the world within reach for globetrotters with unique conditions. What’s the one thing all of these individuals have in common? Each of them is staying in the Great Smoky Mountains to experience all the natural beauty and all-ages entertainment the region has to offer! There is an intelligent young man on the ground floor who suffered a traumatic injury last year and now explores the Parkway in his trusty wheelchair. Across the hall, there is an adorable family whose child was born with cerebral palsy, which affects her movement and walking. In one suite, there is a lively grandmother who communicates in American Sign Language to supplement her hearing aid. This entry was posted in HOA & Condo Associations, Real Estate by Jim Slaughter. In the event you decide your pool may be governed by the new ADA requirements (e.g., the association rents out the pool to the public, sells memberships to non-owners, hosts swim meets, a building permit is required for modifications, etc.), the Justice Department has now set up a “Questions and Answers: Accessibility Requirements for Existing Swimming Pools at Hotels and Other Public Accommodations” that may be of interest. Lesser repairs or replacements of existing equipment, like replacing a diving board, will likely not trigger the new requirements, but that could vary by location. What sorts of pool changes require a permit? A permit will likely be needed for increasing the size of the pool, adding pools, changing the shape of a pool, changing the type of filtration system, or other significant construction in the pool area. Otherwise, the plans will not be approved. At present, however, if you attempt modifications to your pool that require plans and permitting, you’ll likely be told the current NC Building Code requires the pool to adhere to the new ADA guidelines. Also, state codes and interpretations can change. The ANSI A117.1 requirements parallel the provisions that the 2010 ADA has for retrofit of existing pools.” So what does this mean? Some associations that have been required to make repairs or alterations to their pools requiring a building permit have been told that no permit will be issued unless the existing pool is brought into compliance with handicapped accessible guidelines in line with the ADA. According to the state’s Chief Accessibility Code Consultant, after June 1, 2012, the new constructions of all pools and alterations of all existing pools (public or private) “are required to comply with the 2012 NC Building Code and the 2009 ANSI A117.1. These statements are not directly related to the new ADA guidelines, but are the result of lesser known changes to the NC Building Code. Several North Carolina associations have recently been told that modifications to their existing pools require that they comply with the handicapped accessible guidelines of the ADA despite the fact that the pools were pre-existing, the associations have never been considered public, do not sell pool memberships, and do not host swim meets. (NOTE: ADA codes are separate from Fair Housing Act Amendment (FHAA) issues, where a handicapped owner can request a “reasonable modification” to make necessary changes at the owner’s own expense.) North Carolina Take on the ADA and Swimming Pool Accessibility In May 2012, the Justice Department extended the compliance deadline for existing public pools to Janu“to provide additional time for compliance and to respond to concerns and misunderstandings about the standards.” Generally, the new ADA requirements do not apply to existing pools at homeowner or condominium associations used only by members or guests due to the ADA definition of “public accommodations,” so many community associations haven’t closely followed the new requirements. A previous blog discussed “ Swimming Pools, the ADA, and Handicapped Accessibility.” The middle of winter may seem like a strange time to discuss pools, but there have been North Carolina developments worth sharing.Ĭhanges to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) for public pool facilities were issued in 2010 to be effective March 15, 2012, with the intent that public pools be more handicapped accessible.
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