Fortunately, accessible pool design will become more common in commercial applications in the very near future. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design now has more stringent and detailed requirements for pool access than previous versions. Many buildings in the hospitality industry are incorporating zero depth entry systems; either with lifts or various sloped entry submerged depth systems (ramps).

This handicap pool is a full poured concrete pool with an hydraulic handrail that goes up and down the ramp. If you would like more information on this pool or other handicap accessible pools I would recommend speaking with Randall Pools.

I am having difficulty understanding why one would want to wheel a wheelchair into the water. Wheelchairs tend to be dirty, and susceptible to rust. The air in the tires and the tubing might cause the chair to float and tip. And unless one has a dedicated wheelchair for the purpose, which involves a chair-to-chair transfer, twice, one would be left with a wet cushion. Skin disorders are already a big enough health hazard.

Why not build either a semi-inground pool (much cheaper), or make that descending ramp a dry one, and leave a wall at the seat height, so the user can make a direct transfer to it just like getting into and out of bed? Just transfer to the wall, and pick up the legs and swing them over. About a foot wide, could even be upholstered with padding and vinyl, or closed cell foam. I designed a spa like that for a wheelchair user, and it was a piece of cake--she just brought a folded towel with her to put on her seat cushion to use when she got out to keep it dry. With the buoyancy and normal chair user arm strength, it was no problem to get back out from a normal height bench inside the spa. For someone less strong, it could be stepped up along the wall, to enable scooting from level to level, or even ramped.

Thank you for your comments on this project. As the builder we built what the team of architects specified based on the needs of the family. There was a lot of input from professionals that got the design to where it is and the homeowners are happy with the finished product.

I am glad the homeowners are pleased, and you certainly do gorgeous work.

My reservations about that method of wheelchair access still stand. In many years of working with wheelchair users, teaching them skiing, producing a seated aerobic video, I have never met one who would want to wheel into a pool.