Washington – Recreation facilities across the country must become more accessible to people with disabilities under changes in Justice Department rules that implement the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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The major rule changes are the first in two decades. It will add swimming pools, parks, golf courses, boating facilities, exercise clubs and other recreational facilities to the 7 million places of public accommodations protected by the law. It also covers 80,000 units of state and local government.
Those subject to the revised regulations, which went in effect Tuesday, have until March 15, 2012, to comply with them.
The Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, Thomas E. Perez, says the amended rules usher in a new day for the more than 50 million people with disabilities.
I think we are discriminating against people with disabilities other than mobile handicaps. Should not every movie theater be equipped with some gadgetry to enable blind people to see the films? How about some accommodations for the deaf to hear the noise at rock concerts, even something to hear State of the Union addresses by the president?
This “access” issue is getting ridiculous.
Do you have any idea what it’s like for a child in a wheelchair ?
A child in a wheelchair is still a child. He or She shouldn’t have to miss out on going to parks, arcades etc just because they have a disability.