Misinformation abounded at the May board meeting about accessbility for the pool.
At the May Medley Board meeting, there was an agenda item:
"Discussion and consideration of ADA Pool Lift Chair"
Everyone probably wants to better accomodate our neighbors who are dealing with temporary or permanent mobility disabilities. However the only proposed solution at the meeting was incorrect on several levels. As a new private 55+ community, we have a modern pool with zero entry and stairs with a railing which is all that is required per ADA.
That said, we can and should do more for our neighbors -- without breaking the bank.
Yet the proposed $9,000 mechanical lift was the only proposal offered to the board and did not take into account that Medley, like Valencia Del Sol, has a zero grade entry so can provide a simple water wheelchair instead for 20% of the cost. (In contrast, typical hotel pools or older communities like Sun City Center, do not have zero grade entry so they MUST install expensive mechanical lifts.)
At the meeting, both a resident and a board member attempted to explain this difference and recommend the water wheelchair option providing a picture to the board. They explained that a disabled resident arriving on scooter or wheelchair could transfer onto the water wheelchair in order to roll gently into the water. The swimmer would then float or swim off the chair which could be returned to the deck until it's needed for their exit.
Surprisingly, the HOA president then acknowledged being aware of the water wheelchair option but had elected to not present it for review to the other board members. He then even stated that we might need up to four chairs to accomdate multiple disabled swimmers. (Please make that make sense -- the swimmer leaves the wheelchair to swim or float - just like from a chair lift! 😏)
We hear many comparisons to Valencia del Sol and noticed that they do not have a lift
(but might/could have a water wheelchair, just like us. )
Sun City Center's pool (below) has no graded entry so MUST use a lift.
Ironic Footnote - Notice that Valencia del Sol's pool provides volleyball net poles for impromptu games -- which are now banned at Medley. 😟
